Assessing The Level Of Awareness And Involvement Of Farmers In Agricultural Programmes Implemented In Luawa Chiefdom, Kailahun District, Eastern Sierra Leone
Volume 2 - Issue 9, September 2018 Edition
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Author(s)
Raymond Morie Musa, Dr. Saffa Barbee Massaquoi, Dr. Saidu Challay
Keywords
Safety net, agro processing, crop diversification, food security
Abstract
This study aimed at investigating the agricultural programmes adopted for promoting food security in Luawa Chiefdom, Kailahun District by government agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) and communities in the chiefdom. The study was conducted in Luawa Chiefdom, Kailahun District. Luawa is a class (A) chiefdom which shares borders with both the Republic of Guinea, and Liberia. The design of this study is a descriptive one, which was aimed at assessing the agricultural programmes adopted for promoting food security in the Luawa chiefdom. A purposeful sample of eighty (80) farmers was used for this study. This sample was derived from an estimated major farming population of one hundred and twenty (120) farmers identified in the communities within the chiefdom. The study revealed that farmers are aware of, and are involved in all of the agricultural Progammes adopted by government, NGOs and the communities. However, their level of awareness and involvement were limited for the following programmes: Construction of food processing plants; training in post-harvest losses; construction of fish ponds; training in food processing; and training in food preservation. In order to improve on the current level of awareness of and involvement in agricultural programmes awareness campaigns and participatory initiatives should be created among farmers, the government, NGOs and the communities. Furthermore, farmers should endeavour to further adopt all identified agricultural programmes in the Luawa Chiefdom. Trunk and Feeder roads should be constructed or rehabilitated in the chiefdom in order to facilitate this process.
References
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