A delegation from the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) Mid Term Review team, accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) and implementing partners, concluded a fruitful four-day field assessment tour in districts benefiting from the Sierra Leone Agribusiness and Rice Value Chain Support (SLARiS) Project from November 14 to 18, 2023.
The primary objective of the AfDB mission team was to evaluate the progress of the SLARiS Project and key initiatives, including the ongoing construction of a modern national seed testing lab at Mile 91, rehabilitation of the varietal Maintenance Center at Kobia, construction of the Integrated Rice and Maize facility at Njala, rehabilitation of the SLeSCA head office at Tower Hill, Freetown, and the training of youth entrepreneurs in agriculture. Additionally, the team aimed to identify gaps in the SLARiS project and provide recommendations for improving the performance of the project and ensuring the objectives are achieved.
Mr. Jack Jalloh, head of NDPPCO of the Ministry of Agriculture, extended a warm welcome to the AfDB mission team, assuring them of technical support in identifying project challenges and gathering vital information for decision-making. Mr. Jalloh highlighted the importance of the Feed Salone Program, the flagship initiative of the President, emphasizing the need for support from the project and the Bank to ensure its success.
During the field visit to Kenema District, Mr Fomba Wai, head of the AfDB mission team, met with the Military brigade in Kenema to negotiate agricultural facilities’ investment by the bank. Mr. Wai underscored the bank’s commitment to developing and supporting the agricultural sector, with a focus on utilizing the infrastructure for the Feed Salone Program. Mr Wai reiterated AfDB’s dedication to boosting Sierra Leone’s economy and improving farmers’ livelihoods through agriculture. He called on MAFS senior officials to negotiate with the Military brigade in Kenema to make the SMP production centre available for public use.
The outgoing Project Manager of the SLARiS Project, Mr John Maada Sinah, expressed gratitude to the mission team for visiting the implementing site expressed optimism about the project’s progress and hoped for a positive turnaround under the new management. He mentioned that under his stewardship, the project has been stabilized, gradually progressing and is now on an upward trajectory.
In response, Mr. Tamba Jumu, the new Project Manager of SLARiS, commended MAFS technical staff and the Bank for their continuous commitment, and described the visit as timely, encouraging colleagues to provide feedback from their field findings to improve project challenges. Mr. Jumu assured the Bank and Ministry of his readiness to work on the project objectives and achieve its goals, suggesting a dialogue between the Bank and the Ministry to extend the project for another two years. Madam Adama Koroma, SLARiS beneficiary, highlighted some constraints during interactions with the mission team, including the need for rain gear, harvesters, tractors, dry floors, milling equipment, and timely support. She emphasized the use of local methods in harvesting, leading to longer processing times and post-harvest losses, and requested more support to overcome these challenges.
The tour allowed the mission team to visit AfDB’s ongoing efforts and assess the project’s progress, including the construction and rehabilitation of agricultural facilities. The SLARiS project is a five-year AfDB and GoSL-funded project that is being implemented in Kambia, Kenema and Moyamba.
