After 30 Years at UN, Woman Returns to Kono to Build Agricultural Business
Alusine Ahmed Kargbo After 30 years working with the United Nations, Madam Sitta Kaikai returned to Kono District to invest in agriculture, support local farmers and create employment opportunities for young people.
Madam Sitta Kaikai, a former United Nations worker, has expanded her poultry farming business in Kono District from 1,000 to 3,000 birds, creating jobs and supporting local farmers through her investment in agriculture.
Kaikai, who spent 30 years working with the UN, returned to her community with a plan to improve food production and provide income opportunities for residents through farming.
Her decision was driven by a desire to make a greater contribution to her community after years of working abroad.
“I worked for the UN for thirty years, but what would I have gained if I failed to feed my community?” she said, explaining why she chose to invest in agriculture.
She started her poultry business with 1,000 birds, using her personal savings. She also organised women into farming groups to produce groundnuts and maize.
However, the groups faced challenges, including limited farming knowledge, inadequate resources and low production, making it difficult to grow their activities.
Kaikai later expanded into rice production, aiming to increase the availability of locally grown rice, which is Sierra Leone’s staple food.
Her agricultural activities received support through the Food System Resilience Program (FSRP), implemented through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. The programme provided her with seeds, fertiliser and farming machinery to strengthen production.
She said the assistance came at a difficult time, when COVID-19 restrictions had disrupted access to essential farming inputs, including seeds and fertiliser.
The support has helped her expand her poultry operations and reduce some of the costs associated with running the business.
In 2025, Kaikai was among 62 agripreneurs selected to benefit from an FSRP matching grant valued at approximately $150,000. The funding is supporting her plans to increase the farm’s capacity to 20,000 birds.
As part of the expansion, she has completed poultry structures, purchased machinery for producing animal feed and acquired tractors to cultivate maize for her poultry operations.
Previously, the high cost of buying feed made it difficult for her to generate substantial profits. Producing her own maize is expected to help reduce those expenses.
The business currently employs about 20 people, most of them young people, providing them with opportunities to earn an income.
Beyond her poultry operations, Kaikai also supports four farmer groups, each consisting of 25 members. She provides them with seeds and land preparation services to help them grow maize, rice and vegetables.
Through these activities, she is combining poultry production with crop farming while supporting other farmers to increase their agricultural output.
Her long-term target is to grow the poultry business to 20,000 birds while continuing to create employment and improve access to locally produced food in Kono District.