<p></p><p>Amidst the rains and cloudy weather, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Food Security continues to demonstrate government’s willingness to support farmers in its drive to achieve increased agriculture production and productivity, as contained in the Presidential Recovery Priorities, of which agriculture is one. The Minister of MAFFS, Professor Jones was joined to present cheques to major cashew farmers in Kono and the Tayorgbo ABC Community Farmers in Tonkolili District, by representatives of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Agriculture, top Ministry Officials, and other key stakeholders like the Chairman of the Sierra Leone Roads Authority Board. The Nimini Hills Cashew Farm project is owned and managed by a young Sierra Leonean, Toni Konomani who has cultivated four thousand cashew trees on a 57acres land out of 130acres in the Nimikoro Chiefdom. The project received a Le50million cheque from the Ministry as a support. Also, Paramount Chief Paul Saquee of Tankoro Chiefdom was presented with a Le50million cheque by the Minister, Professor Patrick Monty Jones. The Paramount Chief has so far cultivated 53acres of cashew trees and 50acres of oil palm trees in his chiefdom. <br></p> <p>Paramount Chief Aiah D. Bona Foamansa III of Nimikoro Chiefdom also received cheque of Lev25million from the Ministry. He has cultivated cash, and tree crops, including 3,820 cashew trees, in 125acres of land. Tayorgbo Agricultural Business Center Community Farm at Mapaki Village in the Tonkolili District received Le 25million. The project can boast of 95acres of rice cultivated. The Minister, Professor Monty Jones said one of the objectives of President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma is to promote agriculture Development in the country. He commended the Paramount Chiefs and other casher growers for taking the lead, which is in line with the President’s vision. The current price of cashew and the demand for it has increased in the world market, which is why the government is supporting cashew farmers so as to catch up with other countries like Ghana that are making lots of income from the said crop.The Ministry is expecting some investors from Germany in a couple of weeks that have shown interest in investing in cashew and other cash crops like cocoa and coffee.“The potential is very great and the Ministry is willing to support farmers,” the Minister assured.<br></p><p></p>