By State House Communication Unit
President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma today Tuesday June 7 received a high-powered delegation from Lion Mountains Agrico Limited at State House in Freetown. Lion Mountains is an agricultural company engaged in rice farming, production and processing in Sierra Leone.
Receiving the delegation, the president expressed delight that the company has not only chosen Sierra Leone as a business destination but also engaged in rice farming which is a staple food in the country. He assured them of government’s support to provide the necessary assistance to make the business grow. “We cannot fight poverty if we cannot get it right in the agricultural sector particularly in rice farming,” he said, and urged the Agriculture Minister to fast track the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between government and the company to allow the latter to operate fully.
President Koroma also expressed appreciation for the company’s initiative to establish a market in the country which will provide easy access to citizens.
Thanking the president, the Managing Director of Lion Mountains Agrico Limited Mike Gericke said his organization has a very big aspiration for Sierra Leone and this is demonstrated in their experimental farm in Senehun, Moyamba district. He informed of building kiosks for their products in the southern province which will later be extended to other parts of the country.
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Professor Patrick Monty Jones who led the delegation, pointed out that Lion Mountains Agrico Limited is a success story for Sierra Leone as the organization is not only producing rice for the market but with affordable measurement and prices. He said their measurements/packaging starts with 5 kilo upwards.
The delegation comprised the former British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone Peter Komrabai Penfold, Chairman of Phoenix Africa Development Company Omobola Johnson and Chief Executive of Phoenix Africa Development Company Paddy Docherty.
