Sierra Leone

The Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI), in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP), organised a five-day training course for cassava seed producers from 6 to 11 October 2025 at Taiama Resort, Taiama Junction, Moyamba District.

The training strengthened the capacities of farmers, research technicians and private sector actors involved in cassava seed multiplication and distribution across the country. The objective was to improve the production of high-quality cassava seed to support national food security efforts and contribute to the Feed Salone initiative.

During the opening session, SLARI Deputy Director General Rev. Dr Prince E. Norman emphasised that this initiative was helping to improve the cassava value chain by providing farmers with scientific advice and better planting materials. IITA representative Dr Thank God highlighted the importance of cassava for employment and agro-industrial growth in Sierra Leone, while FSRP representative Mr Mohamed Sippo praised the collaboration between the three institutions.

Dr Janatu Veronica Sesay of the Sierra Leone Seed Certification Agency (SLeSCA) emphasised the importance of seed certification in ensuring quality and protecting farmers.

Throughout the week, participants learned about cassava seed production standards, disease management, field inspection and post-harvest handling. The training ended with a symbolic seed handover and a field day dedicated to cassava, marking a concrete step towards strengthening the cassava seed system in Sierra Leone.

The Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI), through one of its branches, the Rokupr Research Centre in Kambia District, released 30 improved high-yielding varieties with support from the World Bank-funded Food Systems Resilience Programme. The release ceremony was conducted by His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio. These varieties include maize, rice and cassava (8 varieties of maize, 14 varieties of rice and cassava developed by Sierra Leonean researchers).

The rice varieties released are high-yielding varieties capable of producing 7 to 8 tonnes per hectare, which is a significant increase from the national average of 2 to 3 tonnes.

In his opening speech, President Bio described this release as a scientific breakthrough and a demonstration of his government's commitment to empowering farmers and strengthening national food systems. "The release of these new varieties marks a turning point in our Feed Salone vision. Through research and innovation, we are giving farmers access to seeds that will increase yields, build resilience and ensure food security," he said.

He emphasised that agricultural transformation must be based on science and evidence-based practices, stating that "agriculture is a science."

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Henry Musa Kpaka, reaffirmed the government's commitment to providing improved seeds to farmers in Sierra Leone. He emphasised that Pillar 2 of Feed Salone focuses on strengthening the seed and input system, and that the new varieties being brought to market would increase productivity, boost farmers' incomes and reduce food imports.

In honour of the President's leadership on food security, a new variety of cassava has been named 'Maada Cassava'.

President Bio, accompanied by the Minister of Agriculture, the Director General of SLARI and the FSRP Project Manager, visited demonstration plots to observe the performance of the varieties.

The ceremony brought together farmers, researchers, development partners and community leaders, all of whom praised the government's investment in agricultural research and innovation.

Sierra Leone has taken an important step towards strengthening national food security by storing more than 10,000 bags of locally produced rice in the strategic cereal reserve in Kobia, Kambia District. This important step, funded by the World Bank-supported West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP), is a key component of Pillar 3 of the Feed Salone programme: aggregation, processing and market linkages. It represents a sustainable mechanism for responding to food crises while strengthening the rice value chain.

The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Henry Musa Kpaka, visited the facility, which currently holds 10,000 bags, with an initial stock of 1,200 tonnes of rice purchased and processed by the Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Company and the World Food Programme (WFP). The Minister highlighted that this initiative has not only created secure markets for farmers but has also helped to reduce illicit rice exports at Kambia border points, thereby stimulating private sector participation in the Feed Salone programme.

The strategic cereal reserve is designed to serve as a buffer stock, ensuring food availability in the event of emergencies, price fluctuations and supply shortages, while protecting vulnerable populations from food crises triggered by natural disasters, market failures or geopolitical instability.

Soon, as part of the Feed Salone initiative, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) through the FSRP will establish an integrated silo system with a capacity of 4,000 tonnes in Gbondapi, Pujehun District. This modern facility will serve as a rice processing and storage centre, laying the foundation for the creation of a food reserve authority. According to the minister, this authority is currently being established and will be responsible for managing the initiative, developing sustainable financing mechanisms and ensuring effective crisis management.

This important step enables Sierra Leone not only to meet international food security standards, but also to contribute significantly to the functioning of the ECOWAS Regional Food Security Reserve.

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.

In Sierra Leone, one of the biggest challenges facing young people in the agricultural sector is access to land and finance, which limits their ability to engage in large-scale commercial farming. Yet, with more than 62.5% of the population under the age of 25 and nearly 80% under the age of 35 according to Statistics Sierra Leone, the potential of young farmers to transform the sector and stimulate economic growth is enormous, provided they receive adequate support.

In 2024, the Food System Resilience Programme in West Africa (FSRP) met with the Yormatah Young Farmers Association in the Kono district of eastern Sierra Leone. Initially, the group cultivated a small plot of land and encountered few difficulties. But when the FSRP stepped in to expand their activities to 100 hectares, access to land became an obstacle.

Determined to seize this opportunity, the group negotiated with landowners in the communities of Yordu and Kondeya, agreeing to give them 40% of their income from rice sales in exchange for land. This win-win agreement enabled them to obtain support from the FSRP, which included seeds, fertilisers, mechanisation services and early warning messages through agricultural extension services.

The group is led by Aiah Emmanuel Gborie, a 30-year-old graduate who sees agriculture as a business and a means to prosperity. "The FSRP changed our mindset," explains Emmanuel. "They showed us that farming is a business and that to be successful, we need to think big. Thanks to the inputs, market linkages and training, we are now farming more productively. Farming has become the foundation of my livelihood."

With this support, the group harvested 700 50-kg bags of husked rice. In accordance with their agreement, they gave 40 per cent to the landowners, who then encouraged them to sell part of their harvest to the World Food Programme (WFP) for cash income. Thanks to a memorandum of understanding signed between the FSRP, WFP and the Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Company, farmers like Emmanuel now have a guaranteed buyer at competitive prices.

On behalf of the landowners, Chief Tamba Fasuluku Karkamoe congratulated the young farmers for transforming fallow land into a source of food and income. "They have shown us how productive the land can be when cultivated. We are ready to make more land available for large-scale agriculture," he said.

This partnership is not only transforming lives, it is also strengthening the Feed Salone initiative, as locally grown rice is increasingly being used to supply government institutions and support national programmes such as school feeding (School Canteens). By placing young people at the heart of its activities, the FSRP is demonstrating that with access to land, inputs and markets, young people can drive Sierra Leone's agricultural transformation, feeding the nation while creating sustainable livelihoods.

Tomatoes, one of the most consumed vegetables in Sierra Leone, are the focus of the Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP), with the country aiming to produce 27,000 tonnes by 2026, up from 25,000 tonnes in 2021.

Driven by growing demand for fresh and processed tomatoes, the sector has grown by 2.8% annually since 2017. However, challenges such as climate change, lack of post-harvest infrastructure and the impact of COVID-19 have slowed progress. Despite this, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), with support from the World Bank and GAFSP, is banking on the resilience of smallholder farmers, particularly women and young people, to modernise the tomato value chain.

"The tomato sector is largely driven by women," said Dr Henry Musa Kpaka, Minister of Agriculture. "This alone shows the potential we have to transform agriculture into an activity that empowers families and communities. Through the FSRP, we are committed to modernising this sector to attract investment and achieve food sovereignty."

In 2024, the FSRP gave a significant boost to tomato production by distributing tomato seeds, compost, fertilisers and extension services to farmers. Twenty modern vegetable gardens (MVGs) were created at 17 sites in eight districts, equipped with greenhouses and vegetable storage facilities. This support benefited 4,488 farming households (approximately 26,928 people), 47% of whom are women.

A strategic memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) also enables the construction of solar-powered boreholes to irrigate the MVGs, ensuring year-round production despite climate change.

One success story is Emma Bangura, a disabled woman who has found a new purpose in life thanks to the FSRP.

"Before, I used to beg on the streets. My children even had to drop out of school because I couldn't pay the school fees," Emma says emotionally. "But when the FSRP reached out to me in 2025, my life changed. Thanks to the greenhouse, seeds and support, I turned my wheelchair into a farming tool. Today, my children are back in school. Farming is not charity, it is a source of independence."

Mary Mani, a commercial tomato producer in Lungi, is another pioneer. Hired by the FSRP to mentor smallholder farmers, she uses her greenhouse as a training centre.

“Tomatoes are very sensitive to climate change,” Mary explains. “Thanks to the FSRP, we started with just one greenhouse, and with the income generated from sales, we were able to add another one.

Farmers now have guaranteed access to inputs and the market. Our future looks brighter than ever.

Although the sector peaked in production in 2022 with 20.2 tonnes, fluctuations remain a major problem preventing the sector from reaching its full potential. However, experts agree that with targeted investments, climate-appropriate infrastructure and strategic partnerships, Sierra Leone is on track to meet or even exceed its tomato demand projections for 2026.

"When government efforts are combined with donor investment and community ownership, we are no longer just growing agricultural products, we are growing the future," said Dr Kpaka.

As the FSRP continues to build resilient food systems across Sierra Leone, the tomato sector stands out as a model of transformation, lifting households out of poverty, promoting inclusive growth and bringing hope with every harvest.

The training on capacity building for spray service providers and extension agents, organised by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security under the Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP), was completed on 25 July 2025 at Taiama Resort in Moyamba District. The event highlighted the need to modernise agriculture in Sierra Leone through skills development and inclusive participation.

The opening ceremony, chaired by Dr Isata Kamanda of the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI), emphasised the crucial role of agribusiness in transforming rural livelihoods. Dr Abdul R. Conteh, Acting Director General of SLARI, expressed satisfaction with the diversity of participants and said that the training focused on practical skills needed to improve fertiliser application and agronomic practices. He emphasised that the initiative aimed to create jobs for young people as professional spray service providers.

Mr Sahr D. Koroma, representing the Ministry of Agriculture, acknowledged the challenges posed by the lack of trained field operators, which has affected agricultural extension and led to poor yields and soil contamination. Dr. Janatu V. Sesay, from the Sierra Leone Seed Certification Agency (SLeSCA), highlighted the participation of women and the importance of understanding technical measures for effective spraying.

In his keynote address, Dr Alfred O. Dixon, IITA country representative, urged participants to seize this training opportunity, highlighting the modernisation of agriculture, the need for quality seed systems and effective weed and pest management to successfully implement the Feed Salone initiative. Dr Prince E. Norman then highlighted the importance of improving weed management to increase production and productivity.

Nigerian experts Professor Ekeleme Friday and Dr Godwin Atser led the training sessions, which covered various essential topics such as the cassava seed system, the safe use of pesticides and practical demonstrations. The training, which focused on the private sector and extension workers, combined theory and practical knowledge, paving the way for sustainable food systems, youth employment and the modernisation of agriculture in Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone relies heavily on agriculture to combat poverty and hunger. However, although rice is the country's staple food, most citizens still prefer imported rice because of the high cost of locally produced rice, which puts a strain on the country's finances of around 240 million dollars a year . This burden was compounded when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, forcing many citizens to survive on less than a dollar a day. Small-scale farmers were the hardest hit: essential inputs such as seed rice, fertiliser and labour became unaffordable, forcing many of them to give up growing rice. In the absence of a food security crisis preparedness plan, the government has struggled to mobilise emergency resources to assist farmers.

It was against this backdrop that, as the West African Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP) was being launched, the government called on the World Bank to fund Sierra Leone's first-ever food security crisis preparedness plan. "We knew we couldn't afford another shock that would cripple our food systems," said Dr Henry Musa Kpaka, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security. "So we reached out and the World Bank listened.

Once the crisis plan was in place, the FSRP activated its emergency support for rice production. Small-scale farmers received free rice seed, fertiliser and mechanisation services, from ploughing to harvesting. "The idea was simple," said Dr Kepifri Lakoh, PRSP project manager. "To help farmers bounce back, ensure food security for their families, earn an income and build their resilience to continue farming.

Some farmers have seized this opportunity to rewrite the history of rice in Sierra Leone. In the community of Banekeh, in the Kambia district, more than 200 farmers have benefited from PRSF support in the form of inputs and machinery. Thanks to the income from rice, these farmers have built the community's very first clinic. "Before the FSRP, I only farmed two plots to feed my family. I never dreamt of turning farming into a business," explains Abu Bakarr Bangura, a farmer from Banekeh. "But thanks to the FSRP's seeds, fertilisers and tractors, not only are we feeding ourselves, but we have also built a health centre and obtained seeds for the next season.

Similar transformations are taking place elsewhere. In the community of Kufuru, farmers have used rice sales to build a warehouse and drying floor, and have even launched a village savings and loan scheme to boost off-season trade, boosting household incomes and food security beyond the harvest period.

To make rice a sustainable activity, the FSRP does more than just supply inputs. It is also putting in place vital infrastructure and agricultural technology systems. The University of Njala, with support from the FSRP, has developed Sierra Leone's first comprehensive soil profile to guide farmers to the best ecologies for rice - click here to explore the Sierra Leone Soil Information System https://nasis.mafs.gov.sl/ . "We have found that the Inland Valley Swamps (IVS) can double yields and allow year-round cultivation," said the Minister. The FSRP has teamed up with the FAO to develop these IVS for small-scale farmers, thereby mitigating climate risks and ensuring long-term productivity.

In addition, the FSRP has supported climate-smart agriculture by equipping the Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency with fifteen (15) modern meteorological stations and supporting the National Water Resources Management Agency with a state-of-the-art water quality and research laboratory.

This will ensure that irrigation water remains safe, optimal and resistant to contamination. The project has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Africa Rice to provide improved rice seed varieties and with the National Disaster Management Agency to provide early warning systems - helping farmers to make informed, climate-smart decisions https://www.fsrp-sl.org/early-warning .

"The FSRP's investments fit in perfectly with our Feed Salone programme," the Minister stressed. "We are giving priority to smallholders and the development of IVS in order to boost rice production sustainably and achieve food sovereignty.

As the project enters its third year, it is essential to maintain these gains. Under its market systems component, the PRSF has helped the Ministry of Trade and Industry to harmonise trade policies, facilitating free and secure cross-border trade within ECOWAS. It has also financed WASH facilities for border communities to protect health and agri-food trade.

Above all, the project has strengthened local markets by enabling the World Food Programme and the Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Company to purchase local rice. With government policy now mandating the use of local rice in school feeding, hospitals, prisons and the military, the impact has been considerable. "The PRSP is a truly fundamental initiative," said Yvonne Forsen, WFP Country Director in Sierra Leone. "It addresses the main drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition, builds resilience and secures human capital. Thanks to the PRSF, farmers now have cereal reserves of more than 9,000 bags, which enables us to provide a buffer in the event of a crisis.

As the mid-term review of the PRSP approaches, stakeholders will assess progress and fine-tune interventions. This year, the project has already helped more than 15,000 farmers by providing inputs and mechanisation services for rice cultivation. After the harvest, farmers plan to save 30% for seed, sell 30% to generate income and keep 40% for food, thereby strengthening food security at household and national level. The project has also invested in rice processors to add value, further motivating farmers to increase production.

By 2025, Sierra Leone will be 72% self-sufficient in rice, reducing the annual rice import bill to $160 million. The PRSF has directly affected more than 500,000 lives. "It's not just about growing rice," says Sierra Leone WA FSRP TTL Dr. Adetunji Oredipe . "It's about building a resilient food system that feeds our people, fuels our economy and preserves our future".

The World Bank-funded Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP) has helped the Ministry of Trade and Industry to organise a workshop for the Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC). This committee is made up of key stakeholders from the public and private sectors. The purpose of the workshop was to discuss ongoing trade facilitation initiatives, assess progress in implementing the Trade Facilitation Agreement and the performance of the ECOWAS trade liberalisation programme, and strengthen coordination between institutions involved in cross-border trade.

The two-day event was held on 29 and 30 May at the Country Lodge in Freetown. It aimed to gather the views of stakeholders on improving the national business environment, streamlining procedures and strengthening collaboration under the NTFC. Mr Emmanuel Billy Konjoh, Director General of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, expressed his gratitude to the World Bank and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, through the FSRP, for their support to the NTFC in discussing issues that will benefit cross-border traders. He assured stakeholders that achieving this objective would strengthen the Feed Salone initiative by improving market access and fostering strategic partnerships, which would ultimately ensure better incomes for farmers and enable them to produce more. Dr Kepifri Lakoh, PRSP project manager, confirmed the project's commitment to supporting the MTI in harmonising and promoting regional policies aimed at improving trade efficiency.

This initiative will build the capacity of government officials, bring markets closer to the private sector by enabling them to access relevant trade facilitation information to participate in the Feed Salone programme and improve the ease of doing business in Sierra Leone.