BAFS, Sierra Leone to publish crop suitability soil report

BAFS, Sierra Leone, will publish a report on cropland suitability

The Agricultural Promotion for Food Security (BAFS) in Sierra Leone will soon release a crop report to reduce the heavy workload of farmers who come to the Ministry of Agriculture to ask which region is suitable for growing certain crops across the country. .

BAFS Project Manager, Isaac M. Bangura. He said that after making the announcement, they have collected 13 samples from the 15 agricultural districts and the remaining two will be collected by the end of this month. He said they have enabled three laboratories, including Rokupr soil laboratory, Njala University soil laboratory and Makonde Campus Moyamba district soil laboratory.

The analysis of the report will collect 3,200 soil samples, and he added that 0.01% of the samples have been sent to Algeria, so that the results they will have in Sierra Leone are in line with international standards. He said the entire process will be completed in September this year.

Main objectives

A full crop suitability report will be released and farmers or interested donors will no longer have to go to the Ministry of Agriculture and ask questions about which region would be the most suitable land to grow a particular crop as the report would do. the best to choose the neighborhood they want to be.

Mr. Bangura said the project has three main objectives: to increase MAFS institutional capacity to formulate food security strategies and sector policies, improve cashew, cocoa and coffee productivity, generate income for smallholder farmers and promote exports and sustainable agricultural diversification by expanding agriculture. techniques adapted to climate change, so that smallholders have fair market links.

He added that according to the crops division of the Ministry, rice has been prioritized among other crops, as rice is a staple food for Sierra Leoneans. He added that his organization has sent staff to Brazil to implement strategies to combat biopesticides, adding that they have also set up a bio factory that will develop predators and biological countermeasures. It starts raining to import the Brazilian product.