2005 Press Releases

US GOVERNMENT FUNDS $8 MILLION DOLLAR AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM IN SIERRA LEONE

January 7, 2005

Freetown
Contact: PAO
Tel: 226481

The United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Thomas N. Hull, announced an $8 million dollar (Le 23.1 billion) USAID agricultural/rural development program to target the most acute agro-economic needs in the Kono, Kailahun and Koinadugu districts.  The main aim of this program is to increase agricultural production, promote livelihood activities and link agriculturally productive communities at the local level with national and regional market systems. The ‘LINKS program’ (as it is known) supports President Kabbah’s national food security policy of providing enough food for all Sierra Leoneans by 2007.   

The $8 million initiative will assist small to medium sized agriculture projects, particularly among socially marginalized youth, providing them with technical assistance that will improve their agricultural skills.  The initiative emphasizes increased production of rice and other staple crops, building and improving local markets, storage facilities, irrigation systems and feeder roads.  The package also includes provision of literacy training, micro finance and public economic information systems to enhance the capacity of local farmers.

This three-year program paid for by the American people and administered by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) supports the US Mission’s broader objective of promoting reintegration of war-torn communities. A consortium of local and international partners, headed by CARE Sierra Leone, is implementing the project.