By Richmond B Tholley
Haja Khadija Kamara is among young women transforming farming and changing the notion that farming is for men, not women.
Haja is currently cultivating a variety of crops and fruits in Waterloo and its surroundings in the Western Area Rural District of Sierra Leone.
As a graduate, she did not wait for the government to get her a job but rather engaged herself in farming, especially in tomato cultivation.
In a brief interview with this medium, Haja said she is using her meager resources to finance her agricultural projects, and by this, she can contribute to the development of society and complement the government’s efforts.
Women engaged in the business of tomatoes come to her farm to buy from her and later sell to the public in the Waterloo and the country at large.
Unfortunately, Haja’s dream of changing the narrative in her community through agriculture is being challenged by the lack of support and finance to control pests which she said is deterring her project.
“Pest control has been a major factor that is negatively affecting our work. This farming season alone, we saw huge damage on the tomatoes as you can see, and this is a big loss to me as a woman farmer,” she stated
“Currently, all that I am doing is financed and supported by me and it’s challenging.”
She pleaded for government support so the project could die and would hugely benefit others, especially the women farmers across the country.
She recounted what she has gone through in her journey of becoming a woman farmer which she argued has been worth trying and impactful in diverse ways.
“With the huge challenges and successes so far, I can say the experience and impacts are great, and it has left an indelible mark in my life and career as an agriculturist,” she asserted.
