The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security has launched the Ministry’s 2026 service delivery activities with a symbolic harvest of sweet peppers and the handover of four irrigated greenhouses to the Njala community. The initiative marks a practical step toward strengthening domestic food production and supporting local producers across Sierra Leone.
The greenhouses were provided under the Food System Resilience Program (FSRP), financed by the World Bank, with the objective of improving agricultural research, innovation, and climate-smart production systems. Beyond their academic use, the facilities are intended to generate direct and indirect benefits for Sierra Leonean producers by testing improved production practices that can be adopted by farmers nationwide.
During the handover, the Minister emphasized that investments in protected vegetable production are particularly relevant for smallholder farmers. Greenhouse technologies allow producers to cultivate vegetables throughout the year, reduce losses linked to climate variability, improve yields per unit area, and ensure more stable supplies to local markets. These advantages are expected to translate into higher and more predictable incomes for farmers, while also improving the availability of nutritious foods for consumers.
The Minister further noted that vegetable production offers accessible entry points for women and young people, given its relatively short production cycles and lower labour requirements compared to some staple crops. Lessons learned from the Njala greenhouses are expected to inform extension services, seed selection, water management, and pest control practices that can be scaled up for producers in different agro-ecological zones of the country.
The FSRP Project Manager explained that situating modern infrastructure at Njala University creates a link between research, training, and farmers’ needs. Data and experience generated through the greenhouses will support evidence-based recommendations for producers, including climate-resilient varieties, efficient irrigation techniques, and improved post-harvest handling. This approach is designed to strengthen farmers’ capacity to adapt to climate shocks while remaining competitive in domestic markets.
Receiving the facilities, the Vice-Chancellor of Njala University highlighted their role in strengthening teaching, applied research, and community outreach. He noted that the university will work closely with surrounding farming communities to ensure that knowledge and technologies developed on campus are transferred to producers and contribute to national agricultural development.
As the Food System Resilience Program enters its fourth year of implementation, it continues to focus on practical investments that benefit Sierra Leonean producers by increasing productivity, reducing vulnerability to climate risks, improving nutrition, and supporting sustainable economic growth.
