Women and Youths are believed to constitute over 70% of the agricultural workforce in developing countries like Sierra Leone. However, their voices are mostly not considered when it comes to decision making relating to their socio-economic welfare especially at the rural community level. Hence the Agricultural Value Chain Development project (AVDP) is keen on providing the platform to place women and young people at the center of their agricultural activities. As one of the IFAD supported projects in Sierra Leone, the AVDP through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is placing particular emphasis on rice cultivation through the development and rehabilitation of Inland Valley Swamps (IVS) across the various regions of the country.

As part of its transformative implementation strategy in support of the ‘Feed Salone initiative’, the project is making significant strides in creating empowerment opportunities where women and youths are trained and nurtured to undertake income generation and food security initiatives that will further lead to their overall economic development in their communities.

With the project’s overall target of developing or rehabilitating 4,500 hectares of IVS, the AVDP is currently working with 540 young people to cultivate 2, 700 hectares of swamp rice at its various implementation communities nationwide. The project collaborates with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) to provide farming inputs including high yielding seeds, new technology and the requisite on-site skills training that maximizes all year-round (2 to 3 times a year) production and productivity.

This approach requires the farmers themselves to be directly involved in the identification, development, maintenance, and rehabilitation of their swamps where a regular farmer led on-site training approach is sued to transfer knowledge. The ‘farmer field school. Methodology emphasizes on sustainable land utilization and water management systems that ensures longevity by potentially extending their usability beyond ten years.

Therefore, the core desire of the of the project is to inspire the active involvement of women and youths who are potentially viable and productive in the food production value chain amidst the Government’s desire to tackle food insecurity in the country. 

The AVDP woman and youths centered approach in its implementation strategy does not only enhance the capacity and income of the targeted young people, but it also strengthens effective community participation that ensures ownership while promoting best agricultural practices in more than 200 farming communities.

Unlike the previous contractor or service provider approach, this community led approach also ensures that the project pays labour cost and other charges into the individual accounts of the IVS Farmer Associations which allows the farmers to directly utilize and control of funds allocated for the development and rehabilitation of their IVS.

As observed by Cathrine Ellie, Chairlady of Jahinde Farmers Association in Mamboima Community, Bo District, “this Community approach provides a coordinated approach has now given us the farmers the authority and voice on how we could allocate and use allocated funds in maintaining our swamps”.

The AVDP IVS development and rehabilitation initiative aims to increase rice production both in volume and value by at least 3 metric tons per hectare thereby boosting the income level of farmers through agribusiness with shared benefits that paves the way for long-term agricultural success that enhances the food security drive in the country.