Haja B. Koroma, a single mother, moved to Makeni from Freetown after getting married. However, her husband abandoned her with her two children, both enrolled at university, leaving her stranded in Makeni with no relatives nearby. Faced with increasing responsibilities, Haja began breaking stones to support her children.
The following year, she met Med-Tula Agro Rice Processing Center, a trader in agricultural products who introduced her to farming. Med-Tula, which was then contracted by the Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP), provided agricultural inputs and mechanisation services to farmers as part of the programme.
Thanks to FSRP's support, Haja received seeds, fertilisers and mechanisation services, including ploughing, harrowing and harvesting, all free of charge. This intervention has transformed her life. Before receiving this aid, Haja relied on non-performing loans to finance her farming activities and often struggled to pay her children's university fees. But last year, for the first time, she did not need a loan and was able to pay their school fees easily.
Reflecting on her journey, Haja said: ‘I felt like I was dead alive when my husband left me. Being a single mother in a city with no family, with two children at university, was overwhelming. But meeting the FSRP gave me hope. The smiles on my face when I realised that I could repay my loans and that I still had enough money were priceless’.
One of Haja's children graduated last year, which was a proud moment for her. She now supports her family independently through farming, which she sees as a business. With enough seeds for the current season, Haja plans to expand her crops and increase her rice production. Her aim is to generate more income and build a stable future for her family.
Haja's story is a testament to the transformative impact of FSRP and the power of resilience in the face of adversity.
