Sierra Leone - Torma Bum Rice Development Project

The proposed project aims at developing 12,500 acres of land for rice production by small-holder farmers in the riverain grassland area of Torma Bum. The project aims at increasing rice production in the country to help bridge the gap between local demand for rice and local production. Its actions would include : i) acquisition of farm machinery and implements, and the provision of mechanization services by Project Authority to participating farmers on credit basis ; ii) establishment of a seed multiplication and experimentation unit iii) infrastructural developments including the construction of access and feeder roads, and the provision of health and water facilities ; iv) acquisition and renovation, and at a later stage expansion of an existing rice mill for the processing of project output ; v) provision of staff housing and other ancillary facilities including workshops, transport facilities and VHF radio communications ; and vi) rice mill acquisition, rehabilitation and expansion.