Post a comment 
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has disbursed matching grants totaling approximately US$5.4 million to 62 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across Sierra Leone, aimed at strengthening national food security and expanding agribusiness growth.
The grants were officially presented on Friday, January 9, 2026, by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, under the World Bank-supported Food System Resilience Program (FSRP).
According to the ministry, the beneficiaries-largely women- and youth-led enterprises – were selected based on their operations within four priority agricultural value chains: rice, cassava, poultry, and vegetables. These sectors are considered critical to improving domestic food production, nutrition, and employment.
Speaking at the disbursement ceremony, Dr. Kpaka described the funding as “growth capital” intended to help agribusinesses scale up operations, increase productivity, and create sustainable jobs. He urged recipients to apply the funds responsibly and to uphold standards of accountability and innovation.
“These grants are a vote of confidence in your potential,” the minister said, adding that the government expects measurable improvements in food production and business performance.
The ministry said the disbursement represents a major milestone in the government’s “Feed Salone” agenda, which seeks to commercialize agriculture, build resilience within the food system, and reduce vulnerability to global market shocks.
Officials noted that the program is part of broader efforts to support private-sector participation in agriculture and to position the sector as a key driver of economic growth and food security nationwide.
