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Sierra Leone’s Presidential Spokesperson, Hon. Alhaji Alpha Kanu, has disclosed that the 27,600 fifty-kilogram bags of rice received from the People’s Republic of China under the Chinese Emergency Food Assistance program are insufficient to significantly reduce the prices of rice in the local market.
Kanu made this disclosure in a recent interview with Liberty Online TV in which he addressed concerns about rice prices in the country.
Hon. Alpha Kanu emphasized that while the donation is appreciated, it represents only a small portion of the rice needed to influence market prices meaningfully. He highlighted the Bio-led Administration’s strong commitment to improving food security and agriculture sustainability by 2028.
This commitment was also echoed in President Julius Maada Bio’s recent address during the State Opening of the Third Session of the Sixth Parliament on August 7, 2025. The President reported an 8% increase in domestic rice production in 2024, resulting in a 13% reduction in rice imports. These improvements saved the country over $15 million in foreign exchange and contributed to a 20% decrease in rice prices over the past year.
President Bio further noted the establishment of three new rice mills to boost local processing capacity and reduce post-harvest losses. The Feed Salone initiative continues to be a key driver in Sierra Leone’s push towards food self-sufficiency and economic resilience.
Together, these efforts reflect the government’s strategic approach to ensuring sustainable food security, with a long-term vision to place agriculture on a solid foundation by 2028.
