Mangara Agribusiness, in its continued mission to support sustainable agriculture and promote food security in Sierra Leone, successfully partnered with the Women in Agriculture Network (WiAN) to organize a two-day Training of Trainers Workshop on July 4th and 5th, 2025. The event took place at the Area Code 232 Hall, Pastoral Center in Bo and brought together key players in the agricultural sector.
The training, themed “Fertilizer Application, Soil Health and Crop Protection Practices for Improved Production and Productivity”, focused on equipping community-level trainers and farmers with modern, climate-smart, and sustainable agriculture practices.
Driving Capacity Building in Agriculture
The training was led by seasoned experts, Dr. Alie Kamara of Njala University (Soils and Water Management Department) and Dr. Patrick Maada Ngegba of Sierra Leone Agriculture Research Institute (SLARI), who delivered practical modules on:
- Effective Fertilizer Application
- Enhancing Soil Health
- Pest Control in Rice, Maize and Vegetables Production (Pesticides and Integrated Pest Management)
- Climate-Resilient Agricultural Practices
Participants also engaged in discussions, group learning, and feedback sessions that fostered shared experiences and strengthened the community of practice among agricultural stakeholders.
Mangara Agribusiness: Investing in Agricultural Transformation
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Madam Sinkari Sesay, managing director of Mangara Agribusiness, reiterated the company’s commitment to empowering farmers—especially women—through knowledge transfer and access to quality agricultural inputs.
“At Mangara, we believe that empowering farmers with the right knowledge and tools is critical to boosting agricultural productivity, improving livelihoods, and ensuring national food security. Our partnership with WiAN reflects our shared vision for a more inclusive and productive agricultural sector,” Madam Sesay said.
Women at the Center of Agricultural Development
The event also provided a platform to recognize the central role women play in agriculture. With strong representation from women farmer groups, community leaders, and institutions such as the National Federation of Farmers Sierra Leone, the workshop advanced gender-inclusive approaches in agricultural extension services.
Welcome and keynote remarks were delivered by Dr. Martha S.E. Williams-Ngegba and Madam Lucy Pessima of WiAN and Madam Sinkarie Sesay of Mangara Agribusiness and WiAN. These remarks underscored the importance of collaboration, education, and innovation in modern farming and the collaboration with the National Farmers Federation (NaFF) for this training .
Looking Ahead
Mangara Agribusiness will continue to foster partnerships and develop initiatives that address the challenges of smallholder farmers in Sierra Leone. As a trusted provider of fertilizers, and crop protection products, Mangara is committed to not only supplying quality inputs but also ensuring farmers know how to use them effectively and sustainably.
The company thanks WiAN, NaFF, facilitators, and all participants for making the training a success and looks forward to future collaborations that promote sustainable agriculture and rural development.
