Minister of Fisheries and Marine  Resources called on women  to engage in sustainable  Fish Farming activities

Speaking  at a ceremony where Agriculture  Equipment and other inputs were symbolically presented to Women  in Agriculture WIAN with  support from UN WOMEN at Ma-Nyande Village, Tinkoko,  Bo District, Mrs.  Dugba, spoke about the enormous potentials  women stand to  benefit from in the field of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

 The  Minister who  also received a  consignment  of Aquaculture Equipment and other  Inputs, donated by UN WOMEN through  Women  in Agriculture  WIAN,  said  as one of her ministry’s  flagship programmes,  they will ensure  women in every nook and cranny of the country are encouraged to engage in Aquaculture.

She looked forward to  a symbiotic relationship between her ministry and ministry of agriculture to promote government’s avowed  Feed Salons programme  She  said, “mining has not done much for  us in terms of sustainable development” and thanked  UN WOMEN for the gesture. She appealed to development partners for  more to enable her ministry realize its goals.

 A representative of UN WOMEN,  Kadijatu  Jalloh said,  their mandate is to support  government’s  agenda,  especially those  relating to the economic empowerment of women.  She pledged her organisation’s continued support to ensure women and youths are engaged in sustainable commercialised farming.

 Deputy Minister of Agriculture.Teneh Dick,  commended  President  Bio for his visionary leadership and  trust in women as leaders.  She stressed the need to practice mechanised  farming  and assured farmers  of her ministry’s desire to enhance the implementation of  the Feed Salone Programme.

 President of the National  Federation  of Sierra Leone  Farmers,  Yatta Sama, highlighted strides women are making in promoting sustainable economic development in the areas of agriculture  and fisheries while advocatng for more assistance. President of  Women  in Agriculture Network, WIAN, Juliet Lavalie said, their vision is to foster strategic  partnership that would break barriers  and promote  economic empowerment of women.

The team was later led on a conducted tour of facilities in  the Fish Farming  Experimental Station in Bo by the  minister of  fisheries,  accompanied by the Permanent  Secretary,  Elizabeth  Hawa Ellie,  Director of Fisheries,  Kadijatu Jalloh and other  staff of the ministry.