Agriculture is identified by the Government of Sierra Leone (GOSL) as a priority growth area. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, around 67% of Sierra Leoneans are considered severely food insecure, representing an increase of 23.3% from 2019 (FSMS, 2020). Sierra Leone continues to be a net importer of rice, as the gap between demand and local food supply continues to grow. Among the main factors impacting agricultural production are increased weather hazards due to climate change and degraded natural resources.
This current trend towards environmental degradation, which has resulted in very low marginal farm yields, has considerably reduced yields per hectare and caused numerous eminent environmental risks. The Northern region (where UNIMAK is located) has suffered enormously from environmental degradation and the depletion of its natural resources.
One response to this problem is to train farmers (young people, women and men) in agroecological and sustainable practices.
The UNIMAK Agroecology Training Center aims to position itself to provide the agroecological training needed to contribute to the national food security agenda as articulated in the National Agricultural Transformation Plan (2023) program.
Thanks to the support of the ECOWAS AEP, the Center aims to expand its skills and fields of action in agroecology The strengthening of skills and knowledge in agroecology and food production of 200 young small-scale farmers to lead to sustainable production and maintenance of environments for the sustainability of the nation. Engaging women, youth and men from rural and peri-urban communities who are primarily involved in small-scale farming, in agroecological training will create a platform that will have a series of multiplier effects on food production, processing and other socio-economic activities that can improve the lives of the nation's ordinary citizens.
It is also important to note that the creation of a battery of agroecological trainers and experts trained at the center and farmers at community level will ensure that agroecology is taught effectively for generations to come. Agroecology demonstration and training sites will be created and the center's infrastructure strengthened.
General objective: To build a system that respects human resources and the environment, maintains and increases agricultural productivity and creates a resilient rural society.
Specific objectives
The project implementation strategy will be based on
The administration will manage the financial activities of the project and the Faculty as a whole according to implementation needs; through the University's Director of Finance. Training will be both theoretical and practical to enable participants to acquire the correct and adequate skills, techniques and knowledge needed to produce and maintain their lifestyles. The number of beneficiaries will continue to grow as the Center continues to train more staff, farmers, young people and women in the years to come after the project's completion.
Outcome 1
- Capacity-building for over 200 trainees (50 government extension workers) and over 150 young people (men and women) from communities across the country in agroecological production schemes using environmentally-friendly approaches, devoid of lethal artificial agrochemicals
Outcome 2
- To enhance the center's training effectiveness by improving the Faculty's training scope and facilities
Outcome 3
- To improve infrastructure to enable trainees to acquire the right skills, techniques and knowledge in agro-ecological practices
Outcome 4
- Provision of agroecological equipment (plants and animals) for use during training sessions to create an environment conducive to learning by trainees through supervision and monitoring by trainers.