The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in partnership with Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, and the European Union (EU), has on Thursday, 20th February, 2024 concluded the Feed Salone Pillar 3 convocation at the Atlantic Hotel in Freetown.

Spearheaded by the MAFS, the event was a joined force engagement aimed at fostering the implementation of food security and economic security in Sierra Leone, with commitment from different representatives from government ministries, private sectors, development partners and financial institutions.

The Feed Salone Strategy, is said to be a designed tool for the acceleration of food security and economic growth in Sierra Leone, with Pillar 3 specifically aiming at strengthening the aggregation, processing and marketing of agrifood products to heighten Sierra Leone’s competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.

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In achieving the implemented Feed Salone strategy, the stakeholders outlined specific targets to be met by 2028, including: expanding rice milling capacity from 112,000 tones to 650,240 tones per annum, improving quality and attracting private sector investment in rice processing.

As a way of increasing egg production within the country, the stakeholders noted that the also aim at increasing egg production from 3 million to 15 million per annum, with specific focus on greater involvement from women, youth and persons with disabilities.

The stakeholders also outlined aims for expanding land for onion cultivation, boosting cassava processing to increase market value and opportunities for agro-processors, and for improving the quality of Sierra Leone’s cashew production to enhance its competitiveness in international markets.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Henry Musa Kpaka confirmed the government’s dedication to agrifood transformation.

He emphasized, “we are committed to sustainably transforming the agrifood sector, ensuring inclusivity and job creation for our people. We call on Ministries, development partners, the private sector, NGOs, farmers and cooperatives to contribute to this national effort.”

The European Union Delegation in Sierra Leone also reaffirmed its support for the Feed Salone strategy. Federico Capurro, Food Systems Programme Manager, noted: “The European Union is committed to supporting Sierra Leone’s objectives through financial and technical assistance. This plan is a crucial step towards achieving sustainable agrifood systems.”

Similarly, Saeed Abubakar Bancie, FAO Representative in Sierra Leone, welcomed the official adoption of the operational plan, describing it as both ambitious and realistic. “We supported the design of this plan and are confident that it will significantly contribute to sustainable growth and greater inclusivity in Sierra Leone’s food production sector,” he remarked.