As part of the statutory requirement, Abanga Group paid surface rent of Le240,000,000 old Leones to six landowner family representatives in the Mambolo Chiefdom, Kambia District, on Wednesday, 9th October 2024.
ABANGA GROUP are a legally registered Ghanaian Agribusiness value chain operating in Nambia, Liberia and Sierra Leone, with the Head Office in Ghana.
The Group has subsidiaries of A&G Agro-mechanical Industries, Abanga Foods, Abanga Farms & Food Systems and Abanga Direct Farm Services.
The Group supplies modern tractors and implements, power tillers, combine harvesters and other Agro machinery for land preparation, seeding, plant protection and harvesting.
According to the Founder & CEO, Dr Thomas Abanga, their vision is to empower the agricultural community to eradicate hunger and poverty by providing mechanised and innovative systems to farmers to improve their current agrarian practices beyond mere subsistence into sustainable businesses and farming practices.
In Sierra Leone, Abanga Group, in partnership with the world-renowned Memmonite Economic Development Associate (MEDA) of Canada, will be embarking on large-scale rice farming of about 50,000 hectares of increased yield production through improved mechanisation, seeds and input supplies, and Improved aggregation and process through strengthened market linkage.
At the ceremony in Kobia, he further stated that they will be adopting agri-tech and climate-smart agricultural practices through the application of technology, increasing mechanisation in production and processing.
This project will be creating 250,000 jobs over 5 years, with 70% of the beneficiaries below 35 years, and with at least 50% being young women. He also said that increased large-scale production will undoubtedly contribute to the reduction of importation of rice, and hence reduce the use of foreign exchange.
During the payment of the surface rent, the Founder & CEO, Thomas Abanga, thanked the Local Leaders, Land Owners and the community for entrusting their land to the Abanga group for such an investment.
He said the payment of surface rent demonstrates their commitment to following the legal framework of the country, as well as fostering partnership with the community.
He called on the community to support and own the project, stating that it will create many opportunities that will bring economic benefits to the people of Mambolo, Kambia District, and support the FEED-SALONE agenda of the government.
The CEO thanked the Minister of Agriculture for the support they have received from the government of Sierra Leone since they came to the country.
The Paramount Chief of Mambolo Chiefdom, PC Bai Shebora Lion II, thanked the Abanga Group for honouring their obligations to the land owners, stating that the support and commitments received from the Abanga Group have been overwhelming. He commits to support the project’s goal of improving rice cultivation through technology and mechanisation.
The Abanga Group and Partners (MEDA), has engaged various government officials and agencies, including the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security and some private agro-enterprises.
