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The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) conducted a comprehensive training session on poultry health, disease prevention, and management for 40 Village-Based Advisors (VBAs) in Kenema District on Wednesday, 18th March 2026.
The event, held at the Ministry’s conference hall in the IDA Compound, Kenema, was supported by FIPS-AFRICA and the Seeds of Change Foundation as part of a broader initiative aimed at enhancing livestock production and improving rural livelihoods through modern poultry management practices.
This training is part of the ongoing “Small Farms, Big Futures” project, a collaborative effort between FIPS-AFRICA and the Seeds of Change Foundation. The project focuses on poultry development and agribusiness, with the goal of improving livelihoods for farmers and youth in Kenya and other African nations.
Through this program, participants receive training, starter packs, and access to improved fast-growing indigenous chicken breeds to establish sustainable small-scale poultry enterprises.
Mr. Matthew Mohamed Kenneh, the District Agriculture Officer, expressed his gratitude to FIPS-AFRICA and the Seeds of Change Foundation for their continued support.
In his remarks, he highlighted the importance of the training for local farmers, emphasizing that the success of the program hinges on the commitment of the beneficiaries. He urged the participants to take the training seriously and apply the skills and knowledge gained to improve their productivity and enhance poultry farming in the district.
The beneficiaries of the training, who were selected from five chiefdoms across Kenema District, were educated on a wide range of topics including poultry housing systems, feeding practices, and biosecurity measures, alongside the importance of maintaining health and disease prevention in poultry farming.
The program also covered vaccination schedules and the development of agribusiness skills aimed at boosting food security, resilience, and income generation.
On behalf of the farmers, Ms. Safinatu Bockarie, the Kenema District Coordinator of the National Federation of Farmers of Sierra Leone (NaFFSL), assured the Ministry and its partners that the training and support provided would be put to effective use by the beneficiaries.
She emphasized the importance of the initiative in improving poultry production capacity and strengthening smallholder farming systems in the region.
Mr. Paul Ngegba, the Lead Facilitator and District Livestock Officer, conducted an extensive session on poultry health, discussing common diseases and emphasizing the need for regular monitoring to prevent outbreaks and minimize losses. His session highlighted the importance of proactive health management practices to ensure the success of poultry farming ventures.
The training initiative is expected to significantly improve poultry farming practices in Kenema District, empowering small-scale farmers with the knowledge and skills necessary to increase productivity and contribute to sustainable agricultural growth.
By providing hands-on training and valuable resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, with the support of FIPS-AFRICA and the Seeds of Change Foundation, is making important strides toward improving food security and livelihood resilience in Sierra Leone’s rural communities.
