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Sierra Leone’s Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, has reaffirmed Njala University’s pivotal role in the Feed Salone initiative.
Speaking during a public lecture on Thursday, 22nd November 2024, at Njala University’s Main Campus, the Minister emphasized the institution’s significance in the country’s agricultural transformation agenda.
Delivering his lecture on the theme “Building a Food-Secure Future: Your Role in Feed Salone,” Dr. Kpaka commended Njala University as Sierra Leone’s leading institution in agricultural education and innovation. “Ninety-five percent of my staff at the Ministry are Njala University products,” he stated, underscoring the University’s contribution to developing human capital for the sector.
Dr. Kpaka described Feed Salone as the cornerstone of the government’s agricultural agenda, emphasizing its focus on food sovereignty, equity, and inclusive economic growth. He highlighted the initiative’s commitment to empowering youth and women while fostering collaboration among government institutions, NGOs, universities, development partners, and the private sector.
The Minister encouraged students to view agriculture as a viable business opportunity and outlined strategies through which the Ministry plans to support their aspirations.
In his welcome address to the Minister, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Bashiru Mohamed Koroma, highlighted Njala University’s achievements through the Feed Salone initiative. He explained that the program began with stakeholder consultations involving traditional leaders and youth from the host Chiefdoms of Njala and Bo Campuses, as well as Pujehun and Bonthe Districts.
“These discussions fostered consensus-building and trust, leading to the active participation of community youth in smallholder farming,” he noted. The initiative, now in its third cycle, reflects steady progress and expanded activities.
“Key achievements under Feed Salone include the cultivation of 100 acres of rice in partnership with the Senehun community and an additional 100 acres of rice and cassava for seed multiplication by the School of Technology at Njala Campus,” Professor Koroma disclosed.
He further stated that 384 bags of rice were harvested and distributed to local farmers as seed rice for the 2023 farming season. Other accomplishments include cultivating 30 acres each of black-eyed beans and groundnuts in Jama Quee, Kowa Chiefdom, and planting 60 acres of cashew seedlings in collaboration with the Mano Agricultural Youth Scheme.
