By Richmond B Tholley
Madam Memuna Sanoe, a Sierra Leonean living in the United States of America is changing the narrative of farming in her home Chiefdom of Yoni in Tonkolili District, Northern Sierra Leone.
Her project, the Masankay Agricultural Development is hugely contributing to the development of agriculture in Masankay, a strategic town in Yoni chiefdom.
Madam Sanoe’s project has empowered the community people, especially women and youths in agricultural activities like banana plantations, rice farming, groundnut farming, coconut plantations, cassava farming, pineapple farming, and rearing of ducks.
Local farmers there on the 31st of October, 2023, said they now have a sigh of relief since the establishment of the project.
In a telephone conversation, the philanthropist woman noted she is contributing to the development of agriculture, especially by boosting local farmers because she believes that venture will promote food sufficiency and thus complement the efforts of the government.
Memuna Sanoe’s resolute stance on working collaboratively with individual groups from diverse villages in Yoni Chiefdom, Tonkolili District reflects a dedication to fostering inclusiveness and progress.
“I am here to serve the people of Yoni Chiefdom,” Memuna affirmed.
Currently, communities such as Masankay, Rolimba, Masabay, Robis-Bana, Mateti, Makumba, Romes, Rothangbai, Mamaka, Robarry yin, and other villages in the Yoni Chiefdom benefited from the above agricultural activities. In all of those communities, there are large acres of pineapples, bananas, cassavas, groundnuts, rice, and others.
Cataloging her humanitarian interventions in their lives and communities, local farmers there have described Madam Sanoe’s initiatives as a drive to take them out of poverty.
Alimamy B. Kolo, Aminata Fullah, and Daddy Komeh are among those who have benefitted greatly from the project.
They all expressed gratitude and appreciation to Madam Memuna Sanoe and her team for what they described as a laudable and timely intervention to end starvation and hunger in Yoni Chiefdom.
“Memuna Sanoe’s unwavering commitment to this course serves as a testament to the spirit of resilience and compassion driving Sierra Leoneans’ journey towards a brighter future in ending hunger and starvation,” one of the women said.
The dream of Madam Sanoe is to see that women and youths in her community become master farmers and contribute positively to nation-building.