President Bio Meets with U.S. Officials, Check out the reason!

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio held a strategic meeting with top U.S. government officials, emphasizing a commitment to joint initiatives in agriculture and food security.

The delegation, led by Alexis Taylor, Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, expressed enthusiasm about potential partnerships with the Government of Sierra Leone to drive agricultural growth, with a strong focus on women’s empowerment and climate-resilient farming practices.

During the meeting, Taylor highlighted the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) readiness to collaborate on increasing women’s access to land, financing, and agricultural technology, in a bid to amplify their role in the sector. She also stressed the importance of addressing climate change, pointing to initiatives such as climate-smart rice cultivation that could benefit both countries.

Dr. Manjit Misra, Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, presented the NextGen programme, a U.S.-led initiative to prepare diverse professionals for careers in food and agriculture. Misra proposed that the program could become a key avenue for U.S.-Sierra Leone cooperation, offering Sierra Leonean students training and professional pathways in agriculture.

African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina praised President Bio for his proactive reforms aimed at macroeconomic stability and urged U.S. officials to support Sierra Leone’s ambitious “Feed Salone” initiative to achieve national food security. President Bio, in turn, expressed appreciation for the backing, providing updates on progress and investment opportunities within Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector.

President Bio outlined key reforms in Sierra Leone, including legal changes aimed at enhancing women’s participation in governance and agriculture through improved access to land and financial resources.

He welcomed the NextGen programme as a promising opportunity for youth engagement in agriculture, committing to its integration into Sierra Leone’s education system.

Following the meeting, President Bio led a roundtable discussion with leaders in agriculture and food security to discuss potential funding for the Sierra Leone Special Rice Agro-Processing Zone, aiming to further bolster Sierra Leone’s rice production and food security efforts.