The Executive Chairman, Dr. James Vibbi led the team and visited three nursery sites: Levuma, Kenema district, Bayiema, Kailahun district, Moindayfa, Kono district. According to the Executive Chairman, the inspection visit was to assess the progress of the nursery seedlings and work done by the Produce Monitoring Board (PMB) and the community. He said PMB is providing both manual and technical support and will prepare data of the nursery establishments. Incentives will be given to farmers monitoring the farms. He encouraged the community members to be more committed to the development of the Block farms noting the economic benefits to the individuals and the community.
The Executive Chairman said a well-implemented block farming model program has the potential to increase production volume, improve income and livelihoods for smallholders, and support local economic growth. He further noted that it is the hope of PMB to bring farmers to corporative farming and marketing.
According to the Chairman, he was impressed with the number of healthy nursery seedlings and acknowledged the staff and community for their commitment towards the progress of the Block Farms.
The first stage of the establishment of the Block Farms is community engagement on the acquisition of land. There was a mutual understanding between PMB and the community through the legal description. The community agreed to offer the land to PMB free of cost but with a condition that proceeds will be shared in percentage. The major share is to the community.
