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The Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Food Security, led by Hon. Sallieu Osman Sesay, conducted a joint inspection on Saturday, 3rd May, 2025, alongside Agriculture Minister Musa Kpaka, to evaluate the progress of the Torma Bum irrigation and infrastructural project.
The Committee, formed to monitor the flagship initiative of President Julius Maada Bio aimed at achieving food security, commended contractor PAVI FORT for their dedication despite facing significant obstacles.
“Our visit is a fact-finding mission to ascertain the current status of the project and to make recommendations that will enhance it,” stated Hon. Sallieu Osman Sesay during an initial meeting at Torma Bum. The committee emphasized the critical role of the Torma Bum project within Sierra Leone’s larger goal of self-sufficiency in food production.
Minister Kpaka, on his fourth visit to the site, reaffirmed the importance of completing the project by December 2025. He mentioned that the irrigation and rice mill components are part of the Regional Rice and Value Chain Project (RRVCP). “Torma Bum is crucial, but we must also consider other locations like Gbondapie and Kambia for our food security goals,” he stated.
The Project Coordinator, Abdulai Bun Wai highlighted the dedication of PAVI FORT amidst delays related to funding and challenging weather conditions. He praised the contractor’s performance and their efforts in overcoming difficulties to facilitate construction.
The Regional Director for PAVI FORT, Joel Lawson, informed the committee of the company’s extensive portfolios across Africa. He noted that PAVI FORT emerged as the lowest and most responsive bidder in a competitive international bidding process for the $10.9 million Torma Bum project.
Lawson acknowledged challenges such as design variations and difficult terrain that have impacted progress. He also revealed that PAVI FORT had spent over $1 million on project changes beyond the original design.“
Without a $2 million payment from funders for the work completed thus far, we may be forced to cease operations in Torma Bum,” Lawson cautioned.
Following site inspections, the Committee expressed satisfaction with the progress, recommending that funding be expedited to enhance project momentum. The meeting was adjourned to a later date in Freetown to facilitate further discussions involving all stakeholders.
Minister Kpaka concluded the meeting by reiterating the need for collaborative efforts among all parties to ensure the project’s successful completion. Local leaders, including Paramount, Town, and Village Chiefs, as well as representatives from media and civil society were present during the sessions, underscoring the community’s engagement and support for the initiative.
