By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
In his continued drive to promoting local communities in and out of his operational areas, Dr. Alfred Seawright, popularly known as Salone Mandela is set to install and deliver fish feed, extruding and hammer meals machines to boost farming in Gbense, Gorama Mende and Nimikoro chiefdom.
This was disclosed by the Dr. Seawright Communities Project Coordinator, Dr. Matthew D. Kpundeh, when he took this medium to the agricultural machinery shop at Hastings in the far east of Freetown where the experts are fixing the machines.
Dr. Kpundeh explained that Dr. Alfred Seawright has supported so many farmers in Sierra Leone, therefore, they thoughts it fit to partners with local engineers that will be able to maintenance their machines as quick as possible when there is a breakdown.
He said that there a need to produce fish feed instead of depending on imported feeds and other farm animals. Some of the imported feeds expired before reaching the farmers in the provinces, he said.
He mentioned that locally made fish feed will help to boost production of healthy fish in the country.Test running for the fish feed machine was done in the presence of this medium.
“The machines are of good quality, guaranteed with easy maintenance and much more durability,” Dr. Kpundeh said.
He said that Dr Seawright is implementing this project in order to support Feed Salone project.
“We have pilot farms Dr. Alfred Seawright is supporting from Kono to Kenema and Njala University. We want to extend our appreciation for his timely support in those communities over the years,” he said.
Speaking to the press, one of the Managers of HAM Mechanical Services Hassan Polo Jalloh said they have been manufacturing agricultural machinery for different agricultural products ranging machine for fish feeds, rice meal among others.
We have been doing this for over 20 years, he added.
He said what they are doing is locally made products and they are putting premium on the standard of the materials.
He disclosed that they have supply 90% of farmers with hammer meal products from Freetown to Bo. He furthered that their machines are of good quality and last for years. He called on the public to patronize with them in order to promote local content policy.
“As youths, we want to build the future of this country and there is a need to support our brothers.’’ he said. Some of the machines can serve as multi-purpose. We are can only change few things to fit what we want,” he explained.
He spoke about their expansion plans across the country starting from 6 Mile as they have trained more than 30 people within Hastings as a ways of taking care of their brothers.
He disclosed that they are using stainless materials for food processing items that they are getting from local shops and garages.
