IITA-CGIAR Team Visits President Bio, Pledges Support to FEED SALONE Initiative

Dr. Simeon K. Ehui, Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and Regional Director for CGIAR Africa, led a high-level delegation to meet with President Dr. Julius Maada Bio in Freetown, reinforcing their commitment to advancing Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector under the FEED SALONE initiative.

During the meeting, Dr. Ehui expressed appreciation for the collaboration between IITA and the government of Sierra Leone, highlighting the pivotal role agriculture plays in the nation’s development.

“The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture stands with you, Mr. President, as a steadfast ally in this endeavour. Our reach extends across Africa and beyond, working hand in hand with partners like Sierra Leone to uplift communities and drive meaningful changes,” Dr. Ehui stated.

He emphasized the potential benefits of the partnership, including access to climate-smart agriculture, stress-tolerant crop varieties, and innovative technologies aimed at improving food security and boosting the incomes of Sierra Leonean farmers.

“With the right funding, strong collaboration, and clear, demand-driven goals, the farmers of Sierra Leone will be equipped to harness the power of climate-smart agriculture and value-added technologies,” Dr. Ehui added.

President Bio expressed his gratitude to the IITA delegation for their support, underlining agriculture as the cornerstone of his administration’s flagship programme. He noted the country’s agricultural potential, citing past successes in exporting cash crops like rice, cacao, and coffee, but acknowledged current challenges in productivity and self-sufficiency.

“We are looking for a strong seed system to boost our sector. Nigeria has done well in this area, and partnering with you is both laudable and timely. I am excited about this partnership because I don’t want to fail. We want history to know that the IITA was part of our Feed Salone Initiative drive,” President Bio said.

The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to explore new avenues of collaboration, aimed at making agriculture more productive, enhancing food security, and stimulating economic growth in Sierra Leone.