From the nurseries to the palm oil mill

The health care system in Sierra Leone cannot only be financed by the patients revenus and/or the government. We are trying to combine agricultural development and medical support. The local populations, impoverished by the civil war that ended in 2002, cannot pay the costs of running a hospital. Most of them depend on donations.

The association has tried to remedy this problem by creating for these populations an alternative revenu. This project has resulted in the creation of jobs and revenus for local populations. Basically, one farmer takes care of 10 family member. One job for 1500 farmers improves the living conditions for about 15'000 people.

The project results in:

• regional economic development.
• training of farmers and local personnel.
• Improved profitability and quality of the production of thousands of existing small farms.
• the development of a social and economic infrastructure on a regional scale.

For the population to be able to take the most advantage of this project, the association will help with:

• the construction and management of one, and then several, palm oil mills
• the reconstruction of the plantations of 1500 farmers
• the development and integration of a support system for these farmers.

The profits of this project will be used to cover the costs of running the hospital of Magbenteh in order to guarantee its perenniality.

The nursery for new plants

The construction of the palm oil mill is a big step in the right direction, but is not enough for the farmers to be able to make it. In the rural sector, thousands of small farmers operate plantations of palm oil palms (0.5 to 2 hectares). A survey was conducted among 3'250 farmers and most of them asked for some additional help to improve their plantations.

Once these plantations have been optimised, the farmers will be able to maintain them themselves, managing an income that is sufficient thanks to the palm oil mill.

Each year, some new plants will be available (about 60 per farmer).