Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio Visits Farms To Showcase Farmers And The Military’s Contribution To Feed Salone Ahead Of World Food Day

Moyamba District, Saturday, 17 October 2026- His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has concluded a series of field visits and symbolic harvesting ceremonies at major agricultural sites in Moyamba District, showcasing the contributions of private farmers, women-led agribusiness and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) to the Government’s Feed Salone initiative ahead of World Food Day.

The visits highlighted three complementary interventions in the drive to strengthen domestic food production: commercial hybrid maize cultivation, irrigation-supported multiplication of improved rice seeds, and large-scale rice production by the military. The President received briefings from farm operators, engaged agricultural stakeholders and participated in symbolic harvesting ceremonies to demonstrate the potential of Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector.

At Vaama Farm in Bai Largo, Moyamba District, President Bio visited Sherilyn’s Enterprise for National Change (SLENC) Limited, a women-led agricultural enterprise that has expanded its maize production from a five-acre pilot to 120 hectares of mechanised hybrid maize cultivation. The company supplies maize for poultry feed and creates employment for more than 200 young people, while strengthening domestic feed production and supporting agricultural value chains.

The President also visited SMART Farms in Moyamba District, where an irrigation-supported seed multiplication initiative is producing improved rice varieties developed by the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI). The initiative links agricultural research with the production of quality seeds for farmers and demonstrates the potential of irrigation to support more reliable, year-round rice production.

In Yoni, Kamajei Chiefdom, the President participated in the symbolic harvesting of rice cultivated by the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces across 4,227 hectares. The military’s production is expected to yield approximately 59,900 bags of clean rice.

Under an off-taker agreement between the military and the Ministry of Finance, the rice will supply the Armed Forces’ food requirements for six months, demonstrating how agricultural production can support institutional food needs while contributing to national food security.

The military’s agricultural programme also includes rice and cashew farms across six locations: Makally, Mankana and Rumbeh in Port Loko District; Masang in Tonkolili District; and Yoni and Tormabum in Moyamba District. The extensive cultivation at Yoni illustrates the Armed Forces’ contribution to agricultural production alongside its national security responsibilities.

President Bio expressed appreciation to the farmers, entrepreneurs and institutions that have responded to his call to support the Feed Salone initiative. He explained that the visits were intended to showcase successful examples of agricultural investment and encourage more Sierra Leoneans, particularly young people and private-sector operators, to invest in the sector.

The President commended the leadership of SLENC Limited and SMART Farms, as well as the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, for demonstrating the role that private enterprise, agricultural innovation and institutional investment can play in advancing national food production.

He reaffirmed his Government’s commitment to supporting private-sector participation in agriculture, including initiatives that connect commercial farms with out-growers and create employment opportunities for young people.

President Bio also praised the military’s agricultural intervention, noting that the Armed Forces could contribute to national development and food security alongside their core responsibility of protecting the country.

“We are here to celebrate our farmers, especially the Military, for protecting and feeding our nation at the same time,” the President stated.

The field visits underscored the Feed Salone agenda’s focus on mobilising Sierra Leonean farmers, entrepreneurs, research institutions and public-sector organisations to increase domestic food production, strengthen agricultural value chains and reduce dependence on imported food.

As Sierra Leone approaches World Food Day, the President’s engagements highlighted the importance of sustained investment, mechanisation, improved seeds, irrigation and private-sector participation in building a more productive and resilient agricultural sector.