What are they growing in the fields this year?

They are growing rice, peanuts, sweet potatoes, cassava, and green vegetables.  Rice is the most important staple crop in Sierra Leone, with cassava second.  Rice has been grown in this area of Africa for more than 3000 years! Cassava is one of the drought-tolerant crops, capable of growing on marginal soils.

This combination of crops was chosen to ensure that the produce would provide a good mix of nutrients – protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

The most recent harvest produced 65 bags of rice – after a proportion was given out to recipients, the rest is in storage to ensure availability during the rainy season (hunger months).