Over the past two years, the World Bank–funded Food System Resilience Program (FSRP) has been supporting the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) to expand large-scale rice production—helping the government cut down the heavy burden of rice importation. Before 2023, Sierra Leone spent nearly $250 million annually to import rice for government institutions, including the Military, Police, and Correctional Services.
According to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, the government is taking deliberate steps under the Feed Salone initiative to significantly reduce rice imports. A special agricultural unit has also been established within the RSLAF to champion agriculture and rural development.
In 2023, FSRP supported the RSLAF with seeds, fertilizer, and mechanization services such as land preparation and harvesting—enabling the military to cultivate over 200 hectares of rice. With similar support in 2024, production doubled. However, sustaining production at this scale remains critical to meeting the food demands of the military and other institutions.
The Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, noted that these efforts have already contributed to reducing national rice imports to $160 million, even though machinery constraints persist.
To sustain and expand production, FSRP has in 2025 linked the RSLAF to input dealers and mechanization service providers, strengthened their extension capacity, and facilitated the signing of MoUs with other institutions to integrate locally produced milled rice into their feeding programs.
According to Lt. Col. Habib Jah, “We are committed to the Feed Salone agenda to reduce government expenditure and enhance economic growth. Since partnering with FSRP, our struggles to access basic inputs like seeds, fertilizer, and machinery have been addressed. From the proceeds of the past two years, we have even purchased a tractor. With this progress, we plan to cultivate 500 hectares next year.”
