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A Sierra Leonean delegation, led by Honourable Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, and Madam Salima Monorma Bah, Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI), recently visited the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) in Seattle, USA.
The visit aimed to advance discussions on key agricultural initiatives and digital technology integration in Sierra Leone.
The delegation, which includes Minister Salima Bah—a crucial player in the Feed Salone project—engaged in high-level meetings with BMGF teams to explore several areas of interest, including digital farmer services, seed systems, and livestock priorities.
On the first day of their visit, the discussions centered around Sierra Leone’s agri-food system. Dr. Kpaka highlighted the country’s economic trends, development priorities, and the need for improved seed quality. He also shared the government’s goals to enhance agricultural productivity and reduce food imports, unveiling plans for an Agriculture Transformation Office (ATO) in Sierra Leone.
Day two focused on broader support mechanisms, including financial inclusion, digital farming, and climate-smart practices. Minister Salima Bah emphasized the potential of digital technologies to revolutionize agriculture in Sierra Leone, stating, “By leveraging technologies such as farmer profiling, agronomy advisory services, and extension support through mobile applications, MoCTI plans to ensure that farmers have access to critical information and resources.”
