30 farmers graduate from the GAP course and get certificates to train others.

^{6TH October 2022 – Lungi, Bonthe District}

Today, Save the Children bestowed certificates on 30 farmers who have completed the Good Agronomic Practices (GAP), Commercialization and Socialization Course. The international Finance Cooperation (IFC) and Sierra Rutile Limited funded this project.

A little over a year ago, 57 of these farmers (from six communities) were enrolled into the Sierra Leone Agricultural Initiative project to get this training. These 30 graduates were able to complete all the 17 modules in the course and they are now able to teach the course to others farmers.

Before certifying the farmers, Save the Children, Country Director, Patrick Analo encouraged the them to make good use of the knowledge they have gained, transfer it to their colleagues and ensure it benefits their community.

“We are Save the Children and our core target is the children. We know that if we empower the home with the skills and tools, by extension we are empowering the children and are ensuring that they survive, learn and are protected,” Patrick said.

The Ministry of Agriculture, the International Finance Cooperation and Sierra Rutile Limited said they are impressed by the knowledge that the farmers demonstrated during the graduation ceremony and thanked Save the Children for such a wonderful project. They assured the farmers that such knowledge will improve their lives and their communities if they practice and share the knowledge with others.

Joseph Duramany, one of the lead farmers, said they were grateful for the project and promised to implement what they have learned. He said they have already seen the benefits of the course after testing its principles on their farms and do not plan to stop.

This is the happiest day of my life. This project has improved my farming methods, reduced my spending on ploughing and fertilizers and increased my profits. As if that is not enough, they have given me a certificate to show that I can teach other farmers. That is the best way I will improve my community. I am so grateful, Joseph said.

The Sierra Leone Agricultural Initiative project is targeting six (6) communities: Saahun, Matagelema, Lungi, Junctiolla, Gangama and Higgima T reaching a total of 1,110 beneficiaries, (579 women and 531men). Up to 70 percent are under the age of 30.