MAFS/IFAD Delivers Gender-Friendly Equipment to Boost Rice Production
By: Osman Marah
The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, has officially handed over gender-friendly agricultural equipment to 23 Inland Valley Swamp (IVS) rice groups in Bo and Moyamba districts.
This marks the second planting season of the Feed Salone initiative, a program designed to increase local rice production and empower women in rural communities.
The equipment, which includes power tillers, rice threshers, rice mills, parboilers, reapers, and destoners, is intended to enhance the efficiency and output of local farmers. Dr. Kpaka emphasized the importance of providing machinery that women can operate, noting that their involvement is critical to the success of the initiative.
“Empowering women in agriculture is essential for the sustainability and growth of the sector. They play a central role in increasing food production and ensuring food security,” Dr. Kpaka said during the handover ceremony.
The initiative is part of the government’s broader effort to reduce the country’s dependency on rice imports and boost local productivity. Dr. Kpaka thanked the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and other donors for their financial support through the Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (AVDP), which helped make the donation possible.
The Feed Salone initiative is expected to stimulate the local economy by creating jobs and improving food self-sufficiency. The rice groups receiving the equipment will use it to support their farming activities and improve the quality and quantity of rice produced in the region.
