The newly established National Federation of Farmers of Sierra Leone (NaFFSL) has in a show of character and unity successfully held its maiden convention to elect a new national executive body that is set to steer the affairs of the Federation for the next four years.

On Saturday 30th January 2010, the Saint Francis Secondary School Hall in Makeni was almost fill to capacity with a total of 112 farmer delegates nationwide, who voted unopposed for former Customs Officer and now Master Farmer, Jessie Olu John as National President in an election fairly conducted by the National Electoral Commission (NEC).

President elect - NaFFSL, Jessie Olu John

The convention itself started off peacefully the previous day with farmers from all the regions of Sierra Leone converging at Makeni to proudly usher in a new team of distinguished men and women whom they regarded as better ambassadors to represent them in the fight to attain food self sufficiency as well as transform farming to a dignified and profitable enterprise in Sierra Leone.

The election was unique not only because of the active participation of women but also as a result of the fact that it was completely devoid of any political interference as was clearly displayed by the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Joseph Sam Sesay, who only materialized at the scene to admonish and congratulate the new NaFFSL executive.

In his address, the Minister described the event as "the dawn of a new beginning" adding that the successful outcome of the convention was indicative of how Sierra Leonean farmers are ready to take their profession seriously.

According to the Minister, farmers are vital contributors to private sector led growth for which he admonished them to immediately assume that status to enable them live in dignity and prosperity like farmers in other countries.

"We must move from subsistence farming to full scale commercial or mechanized farming…..we must make agriculture attractive," Minister Sesay underscored.

Furthermore, the Minister took time to explain government’s policies on agriculture, amongst which include elevating the profession to the top of President Ernest Bai Koroma’s list of priorities in his Agenda for Change.

He went on to assert that government would not continue to pay lip service to agriculture reiterating, "this is now the time to move from rhetoric to support agriculture nationwide, the reason why the President has increased the agriculture budget from a pathetic 1.6% to 7.6% and now to 9.9% and we hope to move further very soon."

The farmers broke into wild cheers when the Minister revealed the number of interventions government is making towards agricultural productivity which according to the Minister, include the provision of rice mills, power tillers, haulers, tractors, construction of feeder roads, a landing craft for transporting produce by sea and the setting up of special banks for farmers in Sierra Leone.

Dr. Joseph Sam Sesay further informed the farmers that agricultural equipment like tractors and chemicals are duty free highlighting that government is bringing in more fertilizers to help farmers increase their crop yields.

"This year will be far better than last year…..so today is far better than yesterday," he stressed.

He concluded by calling on Sierra Leonean farmers to unite as a sure way to improve their lot and affirmed that government can only succeed in agriculture if farmers say yes.

Earlier, the new NaFFSL President-elect, Jessie Olu John, reechoed the Minister’s call for unity among farmers averring, "it is no longer about me; it is now about all of us."

He further pledged to work hard in restoring the image of the association and cautioned all potential saboteurs to think above pettiness as according to him, "change is inevitable and the era of change is here and those who are not ready for it will be swept aside by the wind of change since this time round, we farmers deserve more than ever before."

Jessie Olu John reaffirmed his belief in President Koroma’s food security dream and pledged his commitment to fulfill this dream through meaningful partnerships with government and donor partners.

He thanked the entire NaFFSL membership and promised to remain steadfast in his quest to deliver on the platform of change.

A representative from UNDP congratulated the new NaFFSL executive and urged them not to renege in their campaign promises.

The Deputy Commissioner for NaCSA, Charles Rogers, pledged NaCSA’s continuous support towards agriculture adding, "for far too long we have talked farming, now let’s do farming" and revealed that NaCSA’s cash for work programme aims to promote agriculture on a grand scale.

The following are the elected officials for the new NaFFSL national executive;

Jessie Olu John President
Mary Hawa P. Sawo - Vice President
Gassimu A. Sheriff - Production & Marketing Officer
Haja Zainab Adams - Deputy Women’s Leader
Mohamed Kabiru - National Secretary General
Ya Alimamy Turay - National Women’s Leader
Ahmed S. Kamara - Organizing Secretary
Josephine Oya Kargbo - National Treasurer
Festus Kamara - Financial Secretary
Foday Sillah - Young Farmer Leader
Alie Badara Conteh - Public Relations Officer
Fatmata Kamara - Chair, Management Committee
Mariama Keita - Deputy Production and Marketing Manager
Ismael Banya Kandeh - Development Secretary/Admin