REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
MOA
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL FAIR (NAF)
REPORT
2007
Table of Contents Table of Contents Acronyms Brief History about NAF Introduction Formation of Steering Committee Selection of focal persons and organization of 2007 NAF Secretariat Process of selecting 2007 NAF theme Plan of Action for celebrating 2007 NAF Composition of sub-committees and their TOR Challenges Observations Accomplishments Awards Publicity & Public Awareness Construction and Technical Entertainment and Decoration Evaluation Mobilization, Transportation and Security Ways, Means and Finance 13 13 14 1 2 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 9 9 9
Recommendations Conclusion Photos in retrospect of the NAF event
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Acronyms CAC CARI CRS DRC ELBC EM FAO FDA FIB GAA GSA GTZ ICRC IITA LAC LISGIS LNP MC MIA MOA NAF NGO NIMAC PI PUL RPAL SC STCP TOR UN UNDP UNMIL USAID WARDA WFP WRC County Agricultural Coordinator Central Agricultural Research Institute Catholic Relief Services Danish Refugee Council EL Broadcasting Corporation Executive Mansion Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Forestry Development Authority First International Bank German Agro Action General Services Agency German Technical Cooperation International Committee of the Red Cross International Institute for Tropical Agriculture Liberia Agricultural Company Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo-Information Services Liberia National Police Mercy Corps Ministry of Internal Affairs Ministry of Agriculture National Agricultural Fair Non Governmental Organizations National Management Information Center Public Information Press Union of Liberia Rubber Planters Association of Liberia Steering Committee Sustainable Tree Crops Program Terms of Reference United Nations United Nations Development Programme United Nations Mission in Liberia United States Agency for International Development West African Rice Development Association World Food Programme Weala Rubber Company
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Brief History about the National Agricultural Fair (NAF) Since its establishment by an act of the National Legislature in 1948, the Ministry of Agriculture has been in the vanguard to promote, develop, regulate and control agricultural activities and thereby improve and increase outputs and ensure food security in the country. Notwithstanding, the sector is faced with major challenges especially during the recent past (1990-present). In an effort to boost the country food situation and consistent with its statutory mandate, the Ministry in 1961-62, introduced the “National Agricultural and Commercial Fair”, to be held annually in the country where exhibits may be made of machinery, insecticides, fertilizers, low-cost pre-fabricated housing and various agricultural products. Towards this end, the Ministry initiated and organized the first National Agricultural and Commercial Fair in Monrovia (Randall Street) in 1972 under the leadership of Hon. John W. Cooper, then Minister of Agriculture. Subsequent fairs were later held in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County again under Cooper and on Fendell campus, Montserrado County in 1976 under the Ministerial stewardship of Hon. Lewis Russ. Following a lapse of 30 years, it became necessary to reawaken the spirit of the National Agricultural Fair especially given the current low level of agricultural production coupled with increasing population, hike in the price of food commodities, rural-urban migration as well as huge foreign exchange used to import food, including seed rice. Consequently, and as a way forward, reintroducing the National Agricultural Fair became a major challenge in 2007, a challenge buttressed by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf herself at the last World Food Day Program in Nimba County in 2006. Hereto, the World food Day festivities jointly organized and celebrated by the Ministry and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) since 1981 had taken center stage. Introduction The Ministry of Agriculture Family under the leadership of Dr. J. Chris Toe, Minister of Agriculture decided after reflection on the celebration of the 2006 World food Day program hosted in Nimba County and consistent with its mandate, that is was time to hold a National Agricultural Fair. The venue agreed upon was Tubmanburg, Bomi County.. After several consultations, it was decided that the 2007 National Agricultural Fair (NAF) be held under the theme “Soil is a bank, invest in it”. The Steering Committee decided in one of its earlier meetings that the date for the National Agricultural Fair will be from Thursday, November 29 th through Saturday, December 1st, 2007. The overall goal of the three-day event was to promote the food and agriculture sector in the country. The overall objectives of the NAF are: 1. Appreciate, celebrate and identify with farmers; 2. Engender competition among farmers, producers and stakeholders; 3. Encourage diversified food production and consumption;
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4. Enhance commercialization of agriculture or farming; 5. Promote cash crop and value addition for export markets; 6. Promote use of local/appropriate technology through the crop value chain. This report provides an overview of the entire process, formation of committees and their term of references and the mechanism developed to ensure the holding of the 2007 National Agricultural Fair (NAF) in Tubmanburg, Bomi County. Formation of Steering committee The Steering Committee of the 2007 National Agricultural Fair was constituted by the senior staff of the Ministry of Agriculture. The membership included representatives from the international and local agricultural sector (UN agencies, donor organizations, national and international NGOs), business institutions, private farmers and staff of the Ministry of Agriculture. Two focal persons, Messrs J. Sarwolo Nelson, Jr. and Edward B. Perry, were recruited to serve as the technical and professional facilitators for the entire process. Selection of Focal Persons In light of the adherence by the Ministry to hold a National Agricultural Fair that will be successful and unhindered; and given the Ministry’s own limited manpower capacity, it became necessary to identify, recruit and select individuals within the Ministry and from partner organizations for the sole purpose of serving as focal persons; to act as the technical and professional facilitators for the Fair. In support of this effort, a National Secretariat, headed by the Deputy Minister for Regional Development, Research and Extension, Hon. Lwopu Kandakai, was also set up to coordinate the work and to handle the day-to-day affairs of NAF 2007. Process of selecting 2007 NAF Theme Given the level of importance attached to the Fair, which requires the involvement of everyone in the process key employees of the Ministry were invited to develop and “appropriate theme” for the 2007 NAF on July 30, 2007. By August 13, 2007, twenty six (26) suggested themes from 15 persons were received. These were compiled and later circulated to employees of the MOA to vote for the best five (5) entries. A short list of the top 5 themes, along with the original submission from MOA employees, was then submitted to the chairman and members of the Steering Committee of the 2007 NAF on August 14, 2007. At the end of the process, “Soil is a bank, invest in it” was selected as the theme for the 2007 NAF. (NB: A slight
modification to the original wordings was made).
Plan of action for celebrating 2007 NAF The focal persons drafted a detailed plan of action and presented same to the first meeting of the Steering Committee for consideration and approval. A monthly plan of action from July to December 2007 was also presented by the focal persons to the SC. The SC approved the Plan of actions for the implementation of appropriate subcommittees with facilitation by the focal persons.
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Composition of sub-committees and their Terms of References In order to insure the success of the 2007 NAF, seven (7) working committees were set up in August 2007. The sub-committees included: Awards Publicity and Awareness Construction and Technical Entertainment and Accommodation Evaluation Mobilization, Transportation and Security Ways, Means and Finance
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NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL FAIR COMMITTEES/TOR
No.
Committee
Terms of Reference (TOR)
Chairperson
Cochairperson
Members 1. Winfred Hammond 2. Anne S. Laenkholm 3. Anthony Difilippo 4. Bernd Schwenk 5. First Int’l. Bank 6. H.E. Zhou Yuxiao 7. Joseph P. Richards 8. Marianne Byrne 9. Joseph Sam Sesay 10. Joseph Q. Subah 11. Lwopu Kandakai 12. James B. Logan 13. Peter Korvah 14. Boakai Sirleaf 15. USAID 16. Louis Imbleau 17. Lawrence Bropleh 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 1. 2. 3. FIB Firestone AICOL LAC RPAL Josephine Francis Boniface Nah – MOA CRS WFP MIA GTZ
1. Steering Oversee the planning process Making final policies & decisions J. Chris Toe
Ambulai Johnson
2. Ways, Means & Finance
Sourcing of funds Disbursement/coordination/supervision Collect all fees/monies for use of NAF facilities (i.e. booths, etc.)
Philomena Williams-MOA
Mohammed Khaled-FAO
Mobilize/organize participants/farmers for Fair Ensure transportation available for 6
3. Mobilization, Transportation and Security
participants/farmers & their produce to and from Fair. Ensure a successful Fair day Arrange all security-related matters before & during Fair day Liaise with construction/Technical Committee
Edward B. Perry-MOA
UNMIL
4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
4.
Publicity & Awareness
Create awareness Share information on NAF Sensitize participants/public Arrange for media coverage Prepare Jingles, flyers, T-shirts, skits, advertisements, banners, publications, fact sheets, etc.
Arthur TuckerMOA
MICAT
LAC GAA CARITAS/CRS J. Sarwolo Nelson All CACs-MOA Asset Management(MOA) 10. LNP 11. Foreign Affairs Protocol 1. President, PUL 2. UNMIL (PI) 3. ELBC 4. Bisi Klah 5. J. Sarwolo Nelson
5.
Construction/Technical
Prepare grounds Construct booths/stalls, etc. Amadu DorleyInstall public address (PA) systems & MOA banners Liaise with Mobilization, Transportation & Security Committee Provide chairs & tables for NAF Provide cooking utensils
UNMIL
Entertainment/Decoration 6.
Purchase & prepare food/drinks for invited guests/farmers Work in consultation with construction & accommodation committees for decoration of sites Others to be decided 7
Agnes Perkins
Zelayn Johnson (EM)
GTZ MIA-Supt.’s Office CAC & Local staff Benford Jackson WFP RPAL Firestone Plantation Company 8. LAC 9. GAA 10. FDA 11. GSA 1. Supt.’s Office – Bomi 2. Annie Wureh 3. Helena Joyffe 4. Maryann Blidi 5. David Koffa
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
8. Awards
Evaluation 7.
Visit/survey/evaluate all counties’ farms/fields/projects (crops/livestock/fishery) Joseph .Q. Tour/evaluate items on display at NAF Prepare/submit lists of final winners for Subah- CARI prizes/awards in various categories/areas Framers must have at least an acre Determine type of awards/prizes Solicit awards/prizes from partners/stakeholders/others
USAID
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Anne S. Laenkholm (DRC)
7. 1. 2. Joseph 3. Boiwu (FAO) 4. 5. 6. 7.
UNMIL LISGIS UNDP (NIMAC) Mulbah BryantMOA GAA STCP (PayeBayee) FDA ICRC Mercy Corps Firestone LBDI WRC USAID Kpadeh KoikoiMOA
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Handle day-to-day activity of NAF Liaise with and facilitate over-all implementation of committees work on NAF & beyond Prepare & circulate all NAF communications to relevant stakeholders Prepare final report on NAF
Lwopu Kandakai
Peter Korvah
1. J. Sarwolo Nelson 2. Edward B. Perry 3. Helena Joyffe
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Challenges Restarting and successfully hosting the National Agricultural Fair; albeit under very difficult circumstances, after 30 years of dormancy was a major achievement by the Ministry of Agriculture. Although there were many challenges and constraints during the preparation and implementation of activities of the fair itself, which tended to mar the event, the following can be considered as the major ones: Lack of basic operational materials for the focal persons/Secretariat to work in a enabling environment; Insufficient funds throughout the entire process; Inadequate office desk space for effective and efficient secretarial duty Inadequate basic logistics (computer, printer, stationary, transportation, scratch cards, etc.; Delay in approving operational funds and sub-committees budget and delay in releasing same; Usurpation of function of other sub-committees especially by Ways, Means and finance, even though there were definite TOR spelling out duties and responsibilities; Non attendance at critical meetings by some SC members, which tended to frustrate work of the secretariat and focal persons. Observations During the period under review, we observed with concern some issues that also need to be highlighted here, and which hopefully, can be used as a guide (lessons learned) for the future. Some of these, reflected above, are repeated for emphasis only. Planning, more than anything else, is perhaps the most critical factor to address in successfully undertaking and implementing any project or activity. This, though not unique to our situation, seem lacking in our case, and it will continue to retard progress if left unattended to. Even though $75,000.00 (Seventy Five Thousand U.S. Dollars) was allocated/earmarked since before July 2007 for the 2007 NAF, unfortunately, funds, even operational ones, were unavailable until around November 2007. This state of affairs especially tended to frustrate every effort of the Secretariat/focal persons and other sub-committees. As a matter of fact some sub-committees (i.e. Mobilization, Transportation and Security) were unable to perform their functions especially in the wake of usurpation by other sub-committees. Accomplishments Steering Committee The Steering Committee (SC) was responsible for the overall planning of the 2007 NAF. Several consultative and working meetings were held in Monrovia and Tubmanburg, Bomi County so as to design policies and make decisions regarding the 2007 NAF. During the period under review, (August 21, 2007 through November 27, 2007), the SC met 12 times for the successful hosting of the National Agricultural Fair. The focal persons provided updates at every meeting of the committee and sub-committees presented their reports for consideration and action of the SC. The meetings were held in the Conference Room of the Ministry of Agriculture on 19 th
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Street, Sinkor, Monrovia. One of the SC meetings was held in Tubmanburg, Bomi County on October 30, 2007 Awards As per the TOR, the Awards Committee was very instrumental to secure the following items that were presented to the winners, following scrutiny by the Evaluation Committee. # Category Best/Most Productive
1st Prize 2nd Price 3rd Prize
Prize Rice Farmer
CASH: US$2,500.00 Rice Mill Rice Thresher
Contributor
RPAL FAO FAO
Recipient
Mr. Tarnue Jarboi Lofa County Mrs. Rebecca Benson Bomi County
Mr. Folley Sherman Cape Mount County
Best/Most Productive
1st Prize 2nd Prize 3rd Prize
Tuber Producer
One 5 KVA generator Tuber processing machine Assorted Tools Shenny FAO IAS
Ms. Haja Washington Bomi County Women in Development Grand Bassa County Mr. Momo Nyen Cape Mount County
Best/Most Productive
1st Prize 2nd Prize 3rd Prize
Livestock Farmer
CASH: US$1,500 Six ((6) Bundles of Zinc Assorted tools and inputs Africa Motor IAS IAS Kponbien Community Farmers - Grand Bassa
Madam Karmei Nimba County Mr. Harvey Diggs Bong County
Best/Most Productive
1st Prize 2nd Prize
Fisher Folk
One (1) Out board Engine Five (5) fishing nets
3rd Prize
Assorted Tools
BAAFICO Grand Bassa County Augustine Moore Margibi County Robertsport Fish Mongers Cape Mount County
Best/Most Productive
1st Prize 2nd Prize 3rd Prize
Farmers Group
CASH: US$2,500 One water pump Assorted Tools RPAL Auto Spare IAS
Pulukpeh Cooperatives Bong County Dokodan Farmers Coop. Nimba County Gonelor Agric. Estate
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Best/Most Productive
1st Prize 2nd Prize 3rd Prize
Vegetable Farmer
One Motorcycle Five (5) bundles of zinc one cell phone Chinese Embassy BMC Chinese Embassy
Mr. Robert Karmei Nimba County Mrs. Mary Redd Grand Bassa New Dream Agriculture Bomi County
Best local producer of agric. commodities
1st Prize 2nd Prize 3rd Prize One 5 KVA generator One food processing machine Assorted Tools Bashir FAO IAS
SASU Montserrado County Arjay Farm Montserrado County Kwadoo Farmers Coop. Nimba County
Best use of appropriate technology Mr. Jackson Sando Kpelleh Grand Bassa Agri Care Mayama Montserrado County Ebenezer Blacksmith W/shop Nimba County Madam Rebecca Benson Bomi County Arjay Farm Montserrado County Women in Development Grand Bassa County
1st Prize 2nd Prize
Five (5) rolls of tarpulin Cash (US$250.00)
BMC BITTAR Store
3rd Prize
Assorted tools
MOA
Best most productive
Female Farmer
1st Prize 2nd Prize 3rd Prize
Cash (US$250.00) Cash (US$150.00) CASH (US$100.00)
UNIFEM UNIFEM UNIFEM
Publicity and Awareness Invitation letters were printed and distributed to more than 500 persons including government officials, national and international NGOs, academic institutions, farmers groups, civil society organizations, media and political parties; 600 copies of the NAF official program was printed and distributed Multi media coverage was enhanced through production of jingles, airing of talk shows, spot announcements, printing and mounting of banners, construction of two floats. Animators and local musicians were contracted to be onboard the float for a period of one week to sensitize the public about NAF; More than fifty (50) journalists (international and local) attended the program; Live broadcast was made possible TV and radio programs were held before and after the program in Tubmanburg High profile representatives including President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, Cabinet Ministers , Agriculture Minister of Sierra Leone, Joseph Sam Sesay, research scientists from WARDA and IITA and well
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members of the National Legislature, Superintendents from the various counties, Heads of UN agencies and NGOs attended the NAF. Construction and Technical With the support of daily-hired contractors and some employees of the Ministry of Agriculture, a total of one hundred and ninety seven (197) booths were constructed. The dimensions of the reeds and palm-thatched booths were 6ft x 8ft and 8ft x 10ft respectively. The booths were occupied by selected farmers from all the Counties for the display of their produce including food and tree crops, poultry and piggery, among others. Entertainment and Accommodation A local catering firm, MICH-ALI was contracted to undertake this vital activity. More than 2,000 persons were fed adequately with nutritious food for three consecutive days. The C.H. Dowey High School and several public and private buildings were used to accommodate farmers and guests. Evaluation The Committee visited seven (7) counties including, Montserrado, Margibi, Bong, Bassa, Nimba, Cape Mount and Bomi for the purpose of inspecting farmers’ fields and agricultural projects prior to December 1, 2007, the day set aside for the NAF. Superintendents, representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and County Agricultural Coordinators (CAC) were also involved in selecting ten (10) potential farmers from each of the 15 Counties. Evaluation forms were distributed to the farmers who were interviewed. Mobilization, Transportation and Security The Ministry of Internal Affairs, World Food Programme, the Joint Security and other stakeholders were very vigorous in addressing the issues of mobilization, transportation and security. It is estimated that over 20,000 persons mostly farmers (women and youth) attended the NAF in Tubmanburg. The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), German Agro Action (GAA), WFP, FAO, Lutheran World Federation/World Service (LWF/WS), Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and other partners provided means to transport farmers to and from the Fair. Ways, Means and Finance The Government of Liberia (GOL) provided an amount of eighty thousand United States dollars (US$80,000) for NAF and World Food Day. Other sources voluntarily provided assistance in cash and kind. Please see breakdown below:
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NO. DATE 1 25-Sep 2 25-Sep 3 11-Oct-07 4 18-Oct-07 5 14-Nov-07 6 14-Nov-07 7 14-Nov-07 8 14-Nov-07 9 14-Nov-07 10 14-Nov-07 11 14-Nov-07 12 15-Nov-07 13 19-Nov-07 14 20-Nov-07 15 20-Nov-07 16 22-Nov-07 17 22-Nov-07 18 22-Nov-07 19 26-Nov-07 20 27-Nov-07 22 27-Nov-07 36 TOTAL USD
CASH – USD Contributors Company Check No. WFD Government of Liberia LAC 709512 1,000.00 FAO 666688 1,000.00 CRS 64521 1,000.00 Capricon M&Y Africa Motor West African Ind. Selma Trading Liberia Sun Interprise Bittar Reelin Danish Refugee 619175 SETHI 866826 IAS Mercy Corps 3293 AFRICARE 724814 CRS 64671 BMC 64671 Buchanan Renewable 703644 RPAL Pending 8,000.00 Contribution US$10,000 Gasoline 300 Gals @3.70 Cutlasses etc 5 bundle Zinc, 5 tarpaulin Banners, Bill Boards Water pump 5 KVA Generator 6 bundle Zin , 5 Fishing Net, Tools 5 KVA Generator Assorted Drinks Boat Engine, Tuber machine, Rice mill, Thresher Tractor, Power Tiller, assorted Tools Invitations Motorcycle, cell Phone Platform (dollar value as per construction Budget) Transport Farmers - Gbarpolu, Cape mount, Monts, Margbi Transport farmers- Bong 13
NAF 65,000.00
100.00 1,000.00 1,500.00 500.00 500.00 500.00 250.00 500.00 1,000.00 500.00 4,000.00 500.00 500.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 1,000.00 5,000.00 96,350.00
ACC TOTAL 65,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 100.00 1,000.00 1,500.00 500.00 500.00 500.00 250.00 500.00 1,000.00 500.00 4,000.00 500.00 500.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 1,000.00 5,000.00 0.00 94,350.00
IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS Date Company 25-Sep MOA Admin. Nov. 8 DON KAN Nov. 8 MOA Nov.14 BMC Nov.14 CELLCOM Nov.14 Auto Spare Nov.14 Bashir Nov.14 IAS Nov.15 Shenny Nov. 19 T. Choithram Nov. 19 Nov. 19 Nov. 20 Nov. 22 Nov. 22 Nov. 22 Nov. 22 FAO MOA Yeasu Printing Chinese Embassy UNMIL UNMIL CRS
AMOUNT US$10,000.00 1,110.00 259.00 775.00 2,017.00 850.00 1,400.00 2,400.00 1,000.00 193.00 6,300.00 27,200.00 750.00 2,000.00 600.00 5,400.00 2,200.00
Nov. 22 Nov. 22 Nov. 22 Nov. 22
GAA Concern WFP UNHCR
Nov. 22 MOA Nov. 22 Herald Printing Nov. 22 CRS Total Contributions: Recommandations
2 Pickups - to facilitate travel 4 days Transport farmers - Lofa, Bassa Transport Farmers - Nimba, Grand Gedeh, River Gee Transport Farmers - Various Districts within Bomi Truck ( dollar value as per construction budget) Programs Mattresses 25
300.00 5,500.00 9,900.00 1,350.00 450.00 2,000.00 625.00 62,254.00
Realizing the importance of the NAF, the below are suggestions for consideration: 1. Budgetary appropriations for the observance of NAF be increased and made available in a timely manner; 2. The NAF budget allocation be separated from the Ministry of Agriculture annual budget; 3. Committee members be supported to carryout their assigned tasks; 4. Continue the decentralization of the celebration throughout the country; 5. The Awards be provided to winners on the day of the Fair; 6. Relevant sectoral Ministries be encouraged to contribute meaningfully (cash and in-kind toward the observance of NAF. Conclusion In conclusion, NAF 2007 achieved its desired objectives in consideration of the active participation of the farmers, government officials, county authorities and ordinary persons in the street.
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Photos in retrospect of the NAF event
Agriculture Minister, Dr. J. Chris Toe leads President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and entourage to the platform for the official NAF program in Tubmanburg, Bomi County
Vice President Joseph N. Boakai leads the street parade in commemoration of the NAF
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The 2007 NAF Chairperson, Hon. Lwopu Kandakai (Deputy Agriculture Minister) and the Ways, Means and Finance Chair, (Assistant Agriculture Minister) Philomena Williams in front row holding the banner celebrating the event
(L-R) Grand Bassa County Superintendent Julia Duncan-Ccassell, Bong County Superintendent, Ranney B. Jackson and Grand Cape Mount Superintendent, Catherine N. Watson Khasu
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Students march-passed the streets in Tubmanburg in observance of the NAF
Chiefs, elders and other dignitaries at the Fair
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