Farming Sustainability Initiatives

Sierra Leone faces several challenges with developing its agriculture sector. The country relies heavily on subsistence farming, but low productivity is an issue due to lack of mechanization, poor irrigation infrastructure, and low use of fertilizers and pesticides. As a result, food yields are often inadequate. Additional problems include a lack of access to markets, credit, extension services and stable electricity in rural areas. To address these problems, the government is working to rehabilitate roads to improve transport, increase access to microfinance for smallholders, and provide training and technology through agricultural extension programs. as we the non-profits also help by introducing drought-resistant crop varieties, building wells and small-scale irrigation, and connecting farmers to buyers. With continued investment in rural development, agriculture can modernize and strengthen food security while diversifying the economy in Sierra Leone.

Sustainable agricultural practices are intended to protect the environment, expand the Earth's natural resource base, and maintain and improve soil fertility. Based on a multi-pronged goal, sustainable agriculture seeks to: Increase profitable farm income. Promote environmental stewardship, Foundation for agriculture & Environmental Conservation (Faec) is working to achieve these goals in collaboration with Sorogbema Women Agricultural Company, Faec is working with local farmers in practices conservation agriculture and crop diversification and technical innovation in farming which refers to the development of new technologies and methods to improve efficiency, quality, and sustainability in agriculture. Examples include the creation of the plow, precision farming equipment driven by GPS, and technologies that help increase resource efficiency.

Sorogbema Women Agricultural Company is currently operating in Mabai village Kholifi Mbang chiefdom in the cultivation of rice, cassava, maize including other crops diversification to increase food security and market access, focuses on vulnerable women including the youth, single mothers, widows and young girls who are drop-out from schools as a result of early pregnancy and having challenges also to provide education for their children. The company mobilize these women in the involvement of cultivation of rice, maize, vegetable and cassava with the aims to increase food security and improve the general living conditions of locals. The involvement includes training to cope-up in practices, cultivation, production and processing in diversification of crops in area of directly benefit from employment, medical treatment, donation of food, school materials and money for their children to go to schools to educate and become future leaders of tomorrow.

Kholifa Mabang Chiefdom is a chiefdom in Tonkolili District of Sierra Leone. Its capital is Mabang, Sierra Leone. Kholifa Mabang Chiefdom and Sorogbema Women Agricultural Company covered the four (4) communities in the said chiefdom such as: Rotoble, Mabai, Masereku, and Mabambay. The main activities for livelihood are Agriculture and Charcoals burning for market access. The community totally depends on the forest for their livelihood and given education to their children.