On Thursday 9 May 2024, in the village of Komrabai, in the chiefdom of Maforki, in the district of Port Loko, the official launch of the technology and innovation park of the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI) with the support of CORAF took place as part of the implementation of the West African Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP).
The creation of the technology and innovation park is a collaborative initiative whose main objective is to strengthen food and nutritional security in the region. The event was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives of farmers' organisations, government officials, private sector players, development partners and other public institutions.
The SLARI Technology and Innovation Park is a centre for showcasing proven innovations aimed at revolutionising agricultural value chains, in line with the objectives of the Feed Salone programme. Its main objective is to enhance food and nutritional security by facilitating the transfer of knowledge to stakeholders and encouraging the adoption of advanced agricultural technologies, thereby improving local production systems.
During the ceremony, several speakers emphasised the importance of the initiative and its potential impact on Sierra Leone's agricultural sector. The private sector representatives pledged to work with SLARI to disseminate the technologies developed and improved to the country's farmers.
The ceremony concluded with a tour of the park, during which the park manager presented the technologies to farmers and stakeholders. Success stories were shared, demonstrating the tangible benefits farmers have reaped from the park since its inception in 2023.
The opening of the SLARI technology and innovation park represents a crucial moment in Sierra Leone's agricultural development journey. The collaborative efforts of the various stakeholders will make a significant contribution to food and nutrition security in the region by stimulating innovation and improving productivity in the park.
