The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), through the World Bank-funded Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP) in West Africa, has handed over 45 new motorcycles to agricultural extension officers in Sierra Leone's agricultural districts.
This initiative aims to strengthen the delivery of extension services at the community level to ensure that farmers, including those in the most remote areas, have quick access to local support, improved practices and modern agricultural techniques.
Welcoming this FSRP initiative, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Henry Musa Kpaka, stressed that mobility has long been an obstacle for frontline agents. "Too often, our extension workers have struggled to reach farmers in hard-to-reach communities. These motorcycles will enable our agents to travel to train and support farmers with essential services that will transform their productivity," he said.
Dr Kepifri Lakoh, FSRP Project Manager, reaffirmed the programme's commitment to modernising agricultural extension. He highlighted ongoing investments, including the relaunch of the interactive voice response system and the launch of a dedicated call centre for farmers. "When farmers have the right knowledge and tools, they can improve their yields, ensure food security and, ultimately, transform their livelihoods," said Dr Lakoh.
Thanks to these motorcycles, extension agents now have greater means to bring innovation and practice closer together. They can thus bring agricultural knowledge directly to farming families and empower communities to contribute fully to Sierra Leone's Feed Salone vision.
