Sierra Leone

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.

In Sierra Leone, women and young people play a crucial role in vegetable production, making a significant contribution to the country's food system. However, despite the growing demand for vegetables, in particular onions, which are a staple in local cuisine, women farmers often face considerable barriers to their potential. The Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP) has stepped in to bridge this gap, empowering women farmers to break the cycle of poverty through improved vegetable growing practices.
Supported by collaborations with the World Bank, the Government of Sierra Leone and the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme, the FSRP provides vital resources such as seeds, fertilisers, compost manure, tools, greenhouses and irrigation infrastructure, as well as training. This support aims to boost the production and productivity of women farmers, who are often hampered by limited access to quality seeds, land, finance and adequate storage facilities.

These difficulties have been compounded by climatic conditions that make market gardening costly and unpredictable. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation worsened considerably. With the price of onions rising from 17 to 40 dollars per 50 kg, the government suffered considerable losses, spending over 20 million dollars a year to import onions. This crisis highlighted the urgent need to invest in local agriculture in order to stabilise the food supply and protect consumers.
In response, the FSRP implemented its contingent emergency response component (component 4) from 2023 to 2024, providing free support to 15,580 women and youth farming households. This initiative facilitated land preparation, provided high-quality seeds, fertilisers, compost manure, extension services and established market access. More than 430 hectares of onions and 30 hectares of various vegetables (cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, etc.) have been grown in four districts: Port Loko, Koinadugu, Western Rural and Moyamba. As a result, local onion prices have begun to stabilise, enabling farmers to earn an income and provide for their families.

Thaio Kamara, a farmer in the Koinadugu district, shared her experience: "COVID-19 has taught me a lot. Before the crisis, I didn't understand the importance of obtaining high-quality seeds and planting beyond my small plot. With the FSRP, I've made a big change in my life - I got more than 50 50 kg bags at my first harvest and I sold them to extend my farmland, I now have seeds, money and knowledge to develop my farming activity".

When the emergency phase ended in early 2025, the project changed the approach to its support, focusing on creating links between farmers and the private sector to support production. The project has partnered with PC & Son, a major onion importer, to involve FSRP farmers as outgrowers, ensuring a sustainable investment in the sector. In addition, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with PC & Sons to facilitate the training of PRSP beneficiaries and enable them to develop their onion farms for consumption and commercial markets.

Lungi, an onion production centre in the Port Loko district, is an excellent example of the impact of the PRSF. Thanks to the assistance provided to over 500 farmers, almost all the households are involved in market gardening, mainly to supply the capital, Freetown. Mary Mani, one of the beneficiaries, told us her story: "My husband is retired, and we have three children. I met the FSRP in 2023, when the country was recovering from the impact of COVID-19, the vegetable sector had dried up and onions had become a luxury product for most households. That year, the FSRP provided me with inputs (seed, fertiliser and compost manure) and extension services that considerably increased my productivity and household income. Previously, growing onions was difficult and I struggled to make a profit. This year, I harvested more than 200 bags of onions thanks to the FSRP, the Sierra Leone government and the World Bank. I now own a house and have the means to provide for the basic needs of my household thanks to onion growing".

With the emergency phase due to end in 2025, the PRSP's Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP) will take over, continuing to help farmers prepare land and provide fertilisers, seeds and greenhouses to more than 16,500 people in eight districts: Bonthe, Pujehun, Koinadugu, Kambia, Western Rural, Moyamba, Tonkolili and Port Loko.

In the future, the project sees market gardening as a year-round opportunity, fuelled by persistent demand from urban consumers. The women farmers are planning to invest in this sector, particularly through improved access to irrigation. To this end, the FSRP has partnered with UNOPS to develop solar wells and is also setting up 15 weather stations through the Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency to provide weather updates to farmers. In addition, partnerships with telecommunications providers are planned to provide early warning messages, which will further strengthen the resilience of these vital farmers.

The FSRP represents a transformative step towards gender equality and economic empowerment in Sierra Leone, enabling women farmers to realise their potential and contribute to a more stable and sustainable agricultural sector. Through collaborative efforts and targeted support, we can pave the way for a prosperous future where women flourish and the chains of poverty are broken for good.
 

Over 70% of Sierra Leone's farming population is found in rural areas, mainly engaged in rain-fed subsistence farming with less than one hectare of land. Given this scale of farming, there has been little or no surplus to meet the country's staple food consumption needs, making Sierra Leone a net importer of food. The problem of low productivity is the result of poor-quality inputs, while climate variability has contributed significantly to further reductions in agricultural production. As a result, the socio-economic conditions of Sierra Leone's farmers are deplorable, leaving them vulnerable to shocks and threats to food security.

Despite the substantial investments made by the government over the last few decades to resolve the problems associated with the agricultural production ecosystem, these efforts have not led to any notable improvements in the sector. The mismatch of intervention channels with the priorities of the country's food system and the ineffectiveness of implementation strategies have been major drawbacks. Understanding the full range of problems associated with the country's agricultural situation, the Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP-SL), an initiative funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Sierra Leone government's Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), has introduced an innovative approach aimed at guiding small-scale farmers towards commercialisation. This involves establishing strategic partnerships with private sector players to provide mechanisation services, including ploughing, harrowing, seed preparation and harvesting in the vast lowland ecologies, as well as the distribution of improved rice seeds, fertilisers and other agrochemicals in fourteen farming districts across Sierra Leone. This effort has facilitated the cultivation of rice on more than 16,500 hectares of lowlands in 2024.

Central to this approach is the implementation of the community-led cluster farming model, which promotes sustainable farming practices and encourages farmers from various neighbouring communities to consolidate their efforts towards large-scale farming. This model makes technology transfer more efficient and productive, while promoting community cohesion and the efficient use of resources. These investments have led to significant transformations, as the project's beneficiaries can testify.

Mohamed Sankoh, a 30-year-old farmer from the Tonkolili district, shared his experience: "I never thought I would be able to get such a high yield from my farm - 30 50kg bags of cleaned husked rice for my household - after farming for 10 years. When the FSRP got in touch with the community, including my household, they encouraged us to join a neighbouring community with larger farmland of 500 hectares. They informed us that machines would prepare our land free of charge and provide us with seeds, fertilisers and herbicides. 

At first, I was reluctant to leave my small plot for another site, but I later realised that the programme was designed to enable us to produce more rice for our families, ten times more than what we were growing individually".

In fact, the FSRP has not only provided inputs and mechanisation support to these farmers, but has also facilitated the transformation of knowledge for adaptive responses to the effects of climate change. To this end, it has organised extension visits to provide advisory services and disseminate early warning messages, which are at the heart of its integrated landscape management effort. This initiative proved its relevance during the widespread flooding that affected the country's main farmlands during the 2024 agricultural season, resulting in an average loss of around 15% of farms. As one of the farmers supported in the Port Loko district pointed out, this effort has had a considerable impact on resolving crop loss issues for farmers.

Isatu Sesay-Taklaneh, a farmer in Magbota, in the Port Loko district, explains: "Major floods occur here every five years. Similar floods occurred this year and affected rice farms, including mine. However, before that, our capacity to respond to this problem was weak. When the FSRP started to support us, we asked for the rapid supply of seeds and fertilisers so that the rice could be planted before any flooding. The programme responded quickly, providing mechanisation, seed, fertiliser and extension support, including early warning messages. However, labour shortages delayed planting in some parts of the field, which suffered more from the floods.

The PRSF's contributions are crucial to the delivery of the Sierra Leone government's Feed Salone programme. The project continues to strengthen the resilience of local food production, giving farmers the means to adapt to climate change and withstand shocks, while guaranteeing the country's food security. 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), through the World Bank-funded Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP), has awarded grants to six researchers at the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI) to conduct adaptive farm research. The results of these studies should help small-scale farmers to optimise their productivity and increase their incomes in Sierra Leone.

The grant award ceremony took place on 24 January 2025 in Rokupr, Kambia District. Theresa Tenneh Dick expressed her gratitude to the World Bank for its continued support. Referring to her own experience, she pointed out that she had already benefited from a similar initiative funded by the World Bank. She stressed the importance of smallholder farmers in achieving food security, saying: ‘Smallholder farmers are the backbone of our food systems. The research supported by this grant will address the critical challenges they face and provide solutions to boost productivity and income generation’.

Sofia Mansaray, 40, is one of the grant recipients. Her research focuses on processing cassava into flour. The initiative aims to reduce Sierra Leone's dependence on imported wheat flour by creating a locally produced alternative. ‘My research will help reduce the cost of flour imports, enable Sierra Leone to produce its own flour and make it more affordable for citizens,’ explains Sofia.

MAFS and FSRP are committed to closely monitoring the progress of these researchers to ensure that their findings are in line with Feed Salone's vision of strengthening food security and stimulating economic growth in Sierra Leone.

Haja B. Koroma, a single mother, moved to Makeni from Freetown after getting married. However, her husband abandoned her with her two children, both enrolled at university, leaving her stranded in Makeni with no relatives nearby. Faced with increasing responsibilities, Haja began breaking stones to support her children.

The following year, she met Med-Tula Agro Rice Processing Center, a trader in agricultural products who introduced her to farming. Med-Tula, which was then contracted by the Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP), provided agricultural inputs and mechanisation services to farmers as part of the programme.

Thanks to FSRP's support, Haja received seeds, fertilisers and mechanisation services, including ploughing, harrowing and harvesting, all free of charge. This intervention has transformed her life. Before receiving this aid, Haja relied on non-performing loans to finance her farming activities and often struggled to pay her children's university fees. But last year, for the first time, she did not need a loan and was able to pay their school fees easily.

Reflecting on her journey, Haja said: ‘I felt like I was dead alive when my husband left me. Being a single mother in a city with no family, with two children at university, was overwhelming. But meeting the FSRP gave me hope. The smiles on my face when I realised that I could repay my loans and that I still had enough money were priceless’.

One of Haja's children graduated last year, which was a proud moment for her. She now supports her family independently through farming, which she sees as a business. With enough seeds for the current season, Haja plans to expand her crops and increase her rice production. Her aim is to generate more income and build a stable future for her family.

Haja's story is a testament to the transformative impact of FSRP and the power of resilience in the face of adversity.