FAO donates 55 motorbikes to MAF to support animal disease surveillance and market access
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), on Monday, 4 February 2019 donated 55 motorbikes to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for livestock disease surveillance and easier movement of selected poultry and fishpond farmers to market in selected districts.
The event was held at the FAO premises in Wilberforce, Freetown. It was a pooled donation done by three projects in the Organization to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
The Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases (FAO-ECTAD) project with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Global Health Security Agenda, is supporting the country to address critical capacity gaps to deal with prevention, detection and response to endemic, emerging and remerging infectious disease threats and high impact zoonosis; 15 motorbikes under this fund will be allocated to 14 districts and the Central Veterinary Laboratory to ease the challenges of mobility in responding to animal disease outbreaks.
Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (SCP-GAFSP) donated 10 motorbikes to selected Agricultural Business Centres to facilitate farmers’ access to market, support disease surveillance and coordination of Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) in the districts. SCP-GAFSP project was designed as a complementary support to government through FAO’s technical supervision to strengthen the 52 identified Agricultural Business Centers (ABCs) and make them ready for transformation.
Enabling Sustainable Livelihoods through Improved Natural Resource Governance and Economic Diversification in Kono district donated 30 motorbikes to ease the movements of selected fishponds and poultry farmers to the market. The project is funded through a Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) that is expected to contribute to increasing food and nutrition security and improving livelihood status for the rural households in Kono District.
Handing over the motorbikes to MAF, the FAO Representative, appreciated the good cooperation between MAF and FAO. Nyabenyi Tipo noted that the joint donation was a show of joint work between the various components of FAO programme in the country.
Dr Tipo encouraged the MAF authorities to monitor the actual utilization of the motorbikes, and pledged the continued support of FAO to the Government of Sierra Leone.
The Deputy Chief Agriculture Officer and Director of Livestock and Veterinary Services, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Sorie Mohamed Kamara expressed happiness that the livestock sector was receiving overwhelming boost from FAO. “The country is currently faced with serious animal disease threat but we are happy for the prompt support by FAO, USAID and other partners”, he stated.
Mr. Kamara added that the need for mobility in the field has been a resounding call and challenge to field officers. He pledged the ministry’s commitment to properly utilize the motorbikes.
The representatives from the USAID, Dr Monica Dea and SCP-GAFSP, Mr. Andrew Kutubu highlighted the crucial interventions they have made in Sierra Leone and pledged continued collaboration with FAO and the Government of Sierra Leone.
The motorbikes will be distributed to the various locations by FAO in collaboration with MAF and other relevant stakeholders.
Contact:
Keifa Jaward
Communication Consultant