By Ibrahim S. Bangura
Youth farmers in Kukuna Town, Bramaia Chiefdom, Kambia District, have appealed for support to acquire a cassava processing machine to boost production, add value to their harvest, and improve livelihoods.
The youth group, Khireh Anun Kinfeh — meaning “Hoe and Cutlass” in the Susu language — was established in 2014 to promote agriculture, encourage youth participation in farming, and contribute to food security and community development.
Speaking on Sunday, August 2, 2026, the group’s Public Relations Officer, Abdul Karim Dumbuya, said they cultivate more than five acres of cassava annually but lack the equipment to process it into gari for wider markets. “We harvest over five acres of cassava every year, but we only consume part of it and sell the rest within the community. This has little impact on our income. Our goal is to process the cassava into gari and supply it to markets in the city,” he explained.
Dumbuya revealed that last year’s harvest earned the group over Le 8,000, but stressed that a processing machine would significantly increase earnings, create employment opportunities, and strengthen food security. He appealed to Government, NGOs, humanitarian agencies, and development partners for assistance.
Despite challenges, the group continues to use cassava farming to support livelihoods and rural development. Members contribute Le 300 weekly to sustain operations, while proceeds from harvests are used to buy food, finance farming activities, and provide meals for volunteers engaged in community work, including road maintenance across Bramaia Chiefdom.
The organization, comprising both men and women, also supports community development by maintaining roads linking the chiefdom to neighboring towns and Freetown. Dumbuya emphasized that improved infrastructure is vital for farmers, traders, and residents to access markets and essential services.
He reiterated the group’s commitment to agriculture and community service but stressed that external support is urgently needed to provide a cassava processing machine and other farming inputs.