The Community Driven Development Project in the Central River Region recently delivered farm implements to the community of the Banni village in Sami District Central River Region north, at a colourful ceremony held at the village bantaba.
Among the donated items were twenty-eight (28) seeders and twenty-seven (27) sine hoes, worth two hundred and fifty-one thousand dalasis. The purpose of the CDDP intervention is to promote maximum productivity to be able to achieve house-hold food security for their families.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony, the Community Development Assistant in the area, Mr. Gibbi Bah stated that the project has come to empower rural farmers in the struggle to alleviate poverty by ensuring food self-sufficiency.
"The tools given today are meant to facilitate and ease farming to increase crop production for the welfare of all beneficiaries," he stated. He added that if the tools are properly handled, they would serve the intended purpose. But he was quick to say that the implements are not meant for sale at the roving markets (Lumos).
"The materials are not for sale and they must not be taken to the lumo or exchanged with any goods or services," he advised.
He urged the beneficiaries to make the maximum use of the materials by tilling the land to alleviate poverty and have a sense of ownership. He noted that the project development objectives are that rural communities, in partnership with local government authorities plan, implement and maintain their priority social and economic investments.
For his part, Alhagie Ousman Dahaba, the Chairperson of Banni Village Development Committee commended CDDP for what he described as a laudable gesture, adding that the gesture has come at the right time, as farmers are preparing for the rainy season.
Alhagie Sainey Bah, the strategic leader stated that venturing into farming activities is the only way to end food crisis and alleviate poverty at all levels, adding that the tools are here to boost crop production.
Speaking on behalf of the village Alkalo, Mr. Lamin Dahaba applauded CDDP for the benevolent assistance they have been rendering to the rural people, which he said, would go a long way towards improving crop production and productivity for the beneficiaries. He noted that most farmers are without such implements, as according to him, they are very expensive for every farmer to acquire.
