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Staff and pupils of UMC primary school in Northern Sierra Leone have joined other meaningful Sierra Leoneans and organizations to boost the cultivation and production of rice in its vicinity.
The United Methodist Primary School in Mabai, a small town in Kholifa Mabang Chiefdom, Tonkolili District is immensely cultivating rice, thus contributing to nation-building.
“For this agricultural season alone, we have cultivated and produced a plethora of bushels of rice that will help us feed our pupils,” Osman G Fornah, the Headteacher said.
In an exclusive interview with this medium on November 19th, 2023, Fornah, the Headteacher indicated that the School is engaging in rice cultivation and production to complement the effort of government in promoting food security and help their pupils.
The food supplied to schools by the Government and International Partners, the Headteacher said isn’t enough for the kids but he rather advises other School authorities especially those in rural communities to also engage in farming.
By this, Fornah stated the schools would be able to feed the kids while waiting for the rice or food supplied by the Government.
“The ‘School feeding program’ most times does not bring rice for the kids on time but if we have ours in our schools, the pupils will have food ready while waiting for the government to intervene,” the Headteacher maintained.
In those days, the School system allowed agricultural activities in schools, and the UMC School was reviving that culture.
In their little way as a School, he said they cultivated over two acres of land and produced several bushels of rice.
“The rice is presently parked in the school’s store and we’re using it to feed our kids and other purposes,” Fornah noted.
Working tools and finances to pay workers, the Headteacher said are among the many challenges they faced while going about their work.
Fornah implored the government and other individuals for support.
“On behalf of my colleagues and the pupils, I’m pleading to the Agriculture Ministry and other humanitarians for support,” the Headteacher begged.
Brima Kamara, a community member commended the actions of the Headteacher and his staff.
Such a move, he said is not only timely but equally laudable and in the right direction. He encourages the teachers to continue with this trajectory for sustainable development.
Frankly speak if this happened in Europe without time limit when a young teenagers in their fourteens and fifteen go tk the farm and work because the want to show they can cultivate rice for the nation it would have become child abuse and child labour crime . But this Presidentsaid he loves children to only be in school and now he is slowly turning them into some desperate farmers to feed Salone ? Is this a joke or you are just kidding
That is a very good way to teach children to become reliant in agriculture. We were doing practical in agriculture this will help to curb the laziness in Sierra Leoneans mind
Sorry go and edit your post, it’s not cultivation, but harvesting. Cultivation means planting or sowing, but that one is harvesting
Job well done by this noble and outstanding Head Teacher, you are a true example of a good leader. You teaches them how to become self reliance on producing their own food without depending on Government.
#Ministry of Agriculture
Please help the Head teachers of this noble country to implement this method.