Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio Marks World Food Day, Launches Feed Salone Third-Year Report, Calls for Agricultural Innovation

EBK University, Magburaka, Tonkolili District, Thursday, 22 October 2026-His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has called for accelerated agricultural transformation through modern technology, increased local production and agro-processing, declaring that Sierra Leone must produce more of the food it consumes to strengthen national security, create jobs and reduce dependence on imports.

Speaking at the World Food Day celebration and launch of the third-year report of the Feed Salone initiative at Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology in Magburaka, under the theme “Innovate Today and Nourish Tomorrow,” President Bio reaffirmed his government’s commitment to building a productive, resilient and self-reliant agricultural sector.

“Food security is a matter of national security and national dignity. We must increase local production, strengthen our farmers, and build the capacity to produce more of what we consume,” the President stated.

He called for greater investment in improved seeds, irrigation, mechanisation, research, financing and emerging technologies, including drones, while urging stronger links between education, technical training and agribusiness. He stressed that agriculture must become a profitable enterprise for young people and women, supported by reliable markets, storage, transportation and processing infrastructure.

“Agriculture must become a strong foundation for industrialisation. We must add value to our locally produced crops, create jobs, strengthen our economy, and reduce dependence on imported food,” he said.

Highlighting progress under Feed Salone, President Bio reported that severe household food insecurity declined from 28 per cent in September 2023 to 13 per cent in July 2025, while the initiative supported more than 22,000 direct and indirect jobs during its third year.

“Today, nearly three of every four cups of rice on our tables come from our own soil,” he said, calling for sustained efforts to increase domestic production and strengthen food self-sufficiency.

The President concluded with a call for national ownership of the agricultural transformation agenda: “Wetin wi plant, na im wi go eat. Salone go feed insɛf.”

Traditional leaders, represented by the National Chairman of the Council of Paramount Chiefs, Paramount Chief Dr Masakà Madibie II of Kafe Chiefdom, welcomed the initiative and pledged continued support for farming and peaceful communities. Resident Minister North-East Ibrahim Jalloh and Tonkolili District Council Chairman Madam Yabom Seay also welcomed the President and participants to the district.

The FAO Country Representative, Mr Saeed Abubakar Banice, commended the government’s progress and called for greater investment in climate-smart agriculture, modern technology and opportunities for women and young people. The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Mrs Princess Dugba, highlighted fisheries’ contribution to domestic food supply, while Hon. Dr Kandeh Yumkella, Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security, stressed the importance of advancing the wider Feed Salone agenda.

The President of the National Farmers Federation, Mrs Yeatta Sama, encouraged more Sierra Leoneans to embrace farming and commended support for local producers.

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Hon. Dr Henry Musa Kpaka reported that rice self-sufficiency rose, while onion imports declined, and domestic poultry production expanded. He also highlighted investments in seed production, rice processing, agricultural infrastructure and school feeding, noting that nearly one million schoolchildren received meals during the previous academic year, with an increasing proportion of food sourced locally.

Looking ahead to Feed Salone’s fourth year, Dr Kpaka said the focus would be on making existing investments fully productive, completing key irrigation and rice-processing facilities at Tormabum and Gbondapi, and expanding financing and commercial opportunities for farmers, particularly women and young people.

The celebration climaxed with awards to ten farmers, entrepreneurs and agricultural champions for their contributions to food production, innovation, processing and Feed Salone. Recipients included Lieutenant General Amara Idara Bangura for his leadership role in the RSLAF farm; Mrs Monica Kwame Greene for agricultural programme coordination; Mrs Sitta Isata Kai Kai for local production through Mulu Poultry and Chuma Agro Company Limited; and Ms Hannah Elizabeth Tarawally for Coffee Couriers’ contribution to agricultural development.

Other awardees were Paramount Chief Bai Fonti Thangbathi II for advancing food production and domestic rice supply; Ms Safinatu Bockarie for Evergreen Women’s work in inland valley swamp farming and women’s participation in agriculture; Ms Saffie Kalokoh for sustainable agricultural innovation and vegetable production; Mr Peter Dawah for the National Farmers Association’s contribution to goat farming and livestock production; Mr John Shallop for House of Beans’ contribution to agricultural processing and value addition; and Mrs Binta Bio for Godwill Investment SL Ltd’s investment in domestic rice production.

The celebration reinforced the government’s ambition to make agriculture a driver of food security, job creation, industrialisation and improved livelihoods, with Feed Salone at the centre of efforts to strengthen local production, develop agricultural value chains and build a more self-reliant Sierra Leone.