Stakeholder opinion about the work of the SLCC

From small-scale farmers in ASM communities to paramount chiefs, government officials (MAF, Councils and SLARI), poultry rearers and agro-traders at district level all agree that the introduction and capacity building for smallholder farmers in maize cultivation is very much in line with stakeholder development thinking in Sierra Leone. Some have commented that, food insecurity would have worsened with negative consequences on women and children had the SLCC not implemented the maize project following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Kono district. Discussions with women participants at Bongema community (Case Study 1 in Box 1) confirms that SLCC interventions are is extremely relevant to the needs and priorities of women in ASM communities especially in relation to breaking the barriers of access to land and other economic opportunities.