Sierra Leone is ranked 179 out of 188 in the Human Development Index and the third hungriest country in the world says Global Hunger Index. There are more than 6.4 million people living in Sierra Leone, 52.9 percent of who live below the national poverty line. Roughly 60 percent of the population lives in rural areas, the majority of whom rely on subsistence agriculture for their livelihoods. Malnutrition has been the greatest cause of child mortality in Sierra Leone, accounting for nearly half
According to FAO, WFP and GOSL show that more than half of the population-3.5 million people are food insecure in Sierra Leone. Eating significantly less food and less varied and nutritious food, and unable to cope with new shocks such as drought, floods and fluctuating food prices. The number of severely food insecure people has increased by 60 percent since 2010.Out of 149 Chiefdoms 110 Chiefdoms had food insecurity levels above the national average of 50 percent in Sierra Leone.
The project will help 40 farmers and their families out of extreme poverty, provide sustainable food for 40 families. Providing them with farm tools, viable seeds and training on new agricultural techniques will increase their productivity thereby households will not have to travel eight miles or more to buy or sell food. Sinkunia Young Stars Organization (SYSO) helps to address this issue by providing smallholder farmers viable seeds, quality farm tools, food for work and training.
Every farming season the project will help another set of 40 smallholder farmers and their families depending on them moved out of hunger and malnutrition caused by abject poverty. Will increased households food security, income-generating opportunities, increase purchasing power with improved livelihoods. Food from the previous harvest will serve families throughout the year to the next harvesting season.
