By Edward Marah
The Chief Executive Officer, Youth Empowerment in Skills and Agriculture, Mr. Samuel Winston Conteh, a Sierra Leonean based in the United States of America has given hope to the youths of Koinadugu District with the establishment of an agricultural farm and skills training centre in the district.
In an exclusive interview with The Informant Media, Mr. Conteh revealed that, he has finally returned home after several years of stay in the United States to help contribute to food security and youth empowerment in his home District of Koinadugu.
Due to his passion for agriculture, he has established a fourteen acres of farm land, three miles from Kabala Town which has created jobs opportunities for several youths and women currently working on the farm.
Less than a year since his return to Sierra Leone, Mr. Conteh is currently preparing for his first rice harvest next week while the cassava, potatoes, pepper and beans are also soon to be harvested.
He disclosed to The Informant Media that , agriculture is the backbone of economic growth adding that most of the wealthy people in the US are farmers pointing out that agriculture can help reduce poverty, raise incomes and improve food security and enhance community development.
Mr. Conteh, is presently constructing a youth skills training and empowerment Centre which when completed will help in transforming the lives of hundrends of young people through skills development and agriculture value chain, as a healthy, sustainable and inclusive food systems are critical to achieve the world’s development goals.
Agricultural development is one of the most powerful tools to end extreme poverty, boost shared prosperity, and feed a projected 10 billion people by 2050. Growth in the agriculture sector is two to four times more effective in raising incomes among the poorest compared to other sectors according to world Bank.
Agriculture is also crucial to economic growth: accounting for 4% of global gross domestic product (GDP) and in some least developing countries, it can account for more than 25% of GDP.
Mr. Samuel Winston Conteh intervention in investing in agriculture has been commendable by stakeholders and youth of Koinadugu District as a step in the right direction while appealing to other well-meaning Koinaduguian to emulate such good example of Mr. Conteh.