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The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) has received a major transportation boost to help its staff reach farming communities and monitor animal diseases across Sierra Leone.
On Tuesday, March 17, 2026, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) officially handed over 16 new vehicles and 45 motorbikes to the Ministry.
The new fleet will be used by District Agriculture Officers and Veterinary Officers to improve coordination, supervision, and direct service delivery to farmers. A major focus of their field operations will be the “One Health” approach, which aims to monitor and eradicate zoonotic diseases (illnesses that can spread between animals and humans).
According to FAO Country Representative Saeed A. Bancie, the vehicles were purchased through the One Health Pandemic Fund Programme, with financial backing from the World Bank and other international partners.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, received the assets on behalf of the government. He highlighted that transportation has been a major hurdle for agricultural staff.
“Our field staff are constrained by limited mobility, and addressing this challenge will enhance their efficiency, ultimately translating into better yields for farmers,” Dr. Kpaka explained. He noted that the vehicles are essential tools for increasing national food production.
This latest support builds on other recent investments in Sierra Leone’s veterinary infrastructure, including the newly established Central Veterinary Laboratory in Makeni, which has already improved the country’s ability to track and fight livestock diseases.
