As part of its programme for 2011 the Agricultural Engineering Division targeted, through various MAFFS projects, 1,000 hectares of IVS for rehabilitation (of which 815 hectares were accomplished), 550 km of feeder roads, and 193 Agricultural Business Centres (ABCs), FSAs, Community Banks, market sheds, grain stores, sanitary facilities etc. In this respect, AED carried out the following projects and programmes
Formulation of a National Strategy for IVS Development/Rehabilitation
Agricultural Engineering Division (AED) formulated a National Concept Note on IVS development and rehabilitation. This was presented to a MAFFS management meeting for comments leading to finalisation of the documents. The Concept Note proposed that AED would be designated as the authority with responsibility for guiding the processes and procedures of IVS development and rehabilitation, so as to coordinate the existing approaches in the field. It was recommended that this Concept Note be developed into a National Irrigation Policy.
Inventorisation of Inland Valley Swamps (IVS)
The division conducted an inventorisation of IVS sites for all agricultural projects under MAFFS. This exercise involves preliminary surveys of the locations of the swamps; their accessibility; physical characteristics such as the nature of the water regime, current land use, soil conditions, vegetation, status of the catchment etc; the strength of FBOs/ABCs in the area; labour availability in the local communities; land tenure and other issues. The results of the exercise will enable the division to prioritise and select IVS swamps for further rehabilitation and development in 2012.
Building Capacity on IVS Surveys and Design Using GPS and Total Station Technologies
This workshop is intended to provide field staff with the capacity to conduct surveys, prepare maps and design irrigation infrastructure using GPS and Total Station software programmes for all schemes with minimal supervision. This capacity building exercise was the next step in preparations for the Division's activities in 2012, having completed the inventorisation exercise which identified priority sites and FBOs for rehabilitation / development.
Formulation of TCP Project on Capacity Building for Agricultural Engineering Workshops
The division is currently drafting proposals for a Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) on Capacity Building for Engineering Workshops in Sierra Leone. The rationale for this programme is the significant quantity of agricultural machinery that has been imported into Sierra Leone in recent years. While proving highly beneficial for smallholder farmers, this equipment is now at risk of deterioration or loss if mechanisms are not put in place for its ongoing repair and maintenance. The Agricultural Engineering Division therefore needs to upgrade its mechanical workshops to the level required for simple ongoing repairs and maintenance (for example furnishing them with necessary hand tools and spare parts).
Formulation of TCP Project on Land Suitability Studies
The division is currently formulating a proposed Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) on Land Suitability Mapping, assessing the suitability for four new crops to complement the existing eight major varieties grown in Sierra Leone. The most recent Land Resources Survey Project (LRSP) was conducted in 1975-1980, which involved reconnaissance-level studies for the existing crops. This proposed TCP project is to update this study and provide a more detailed level of analysis. It is proposed that this would be a collaborative project carried out with Njala University, undertaken as part of its existing Memorandum of Understanding with MAFFS.