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SIERRA LEONE maq 4ª.indd - agrilife - Europa

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4 EU Support Programmes for Rice and Tree Crop<br />

Production (STABEX)<br />

In 2005, the Government of Sierra Leone,<br />

in its effort to achieve its food security goals<br />

and accelerate economic recovery, requested<br />

use of the balance of the 8th EDF STABEX<br />

funds for the rehabilitation of tree crop<br />

plantations and rice production (see details<br />

on STABEX and other Funds in Sierra Leone in<br />

Box 2). Consequently, a Framework of Mutual<br />

Obligations (FMO) was signed between<br />

Box 2: The Use of STABEX Transfer Project<br />

the European Commission (EC) and the<br />

Government of Sierra Leone in 2006 (National<br />

Authorising Office, 2007). Under USTP,<br />

project value reached 4,378,000 EUR and<br />

the execution period elapsed from October<br />

2007 to December 2009. In this section, the<br />

objectives and priority issues of initiatives<br />

developed with STABEX funds are described<br />

along with the associated initial achievements.<br />

Rice is a dietary staple for most Sierra Leoneans but rice cultivation in Sierra Leone is dominated by<br />

small scale subsistence farms that cannot produce enough to feed everybody and as a result the<br />

country depends largely on imported rice to feed its populace.<br />

With funds from the European Union and ActionAid International Sierra Leone, the Use of STABEX<br />

Transfer Project, will address the constraints faced by farmers in accessing farm tools and processing<br />

equipment and techniques, high quality seeds, limited seed storage facilities, employment opportunities<br />

for women and youths and markets.<br />

The project will target 9500 farmers of which 4275 (45%) will be women farmers.<br />

This project is part of the European Union's agenda to contribute to and support government in<br />

achieving food security.<br />

It will be used to construct local markets, provide seed rice and farm tools, rice milling machines and<br />

rehabilitate roads leading to the production areas.<br />

The project will be implemented using participatory methods, through farmer's groups and government<br />

extension staff. This will ensure local ownership and sustainability.<br />

Some of the key activities will include, mobilising communities, strengthening farmer's groups, training<br />

extension staff attached to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, group members<br />

and farmers, procurement and distribution of inputs such as seeds, tools and procesing equipments,<br />

construction of cooperative seed stores, and building the capacity of new and existing networks and<br />

alliances of farmers cooperatives.<br />

Sources:<br />

ActionAid Sierra Leone - http://www.actionaid.org/sierraleone/index.aspx?PageID=3920<br />

Rural poverty reduction and food security: The case of smallholders in Sierra Leone<br />

67

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