President Dr Julius Maada Bio received a detailed progress report from members of the Presidential Council for Delivering Feed Salone at State House on Monday, emphasising the government’s determination to make the flagship initiative the foundation of the country’s response to long-standing food security challenges.
The Presidential Council was established in October 2023 to ensure that Feed Salone provides measurable benefits to Sierra Leoneans by guiding agriculture’s transition from a largely subsistence activity to a productive sector that creates jobs and accelerates economic growth. At the meeting, President Bio described the council as a group of qualified Sierra Leoneans charged with driving that transformation.
“We have the potential to produce enough food to feed our population,” the President said, emphasising the importance of Feed Salone as a national priority and a national resilience strategy. He stated that domestic food production must be strengthened in the face of global uncertainties, such as conflicts and geopolitical tensions that disrupt supply chains, and that the initiative has already begun to reduce demand for food imports.
President Bio emphasised progress in reducing malnutrition and improving rural livelihoods, as well as the importance of idea-sharing, innovation, and the use of data and technology in modernising agriculture. He cited concrete advances such as an increase in cocoa exports, which contributes to foreign exchange earnings, and improved farmer access to quality seeds thanks to the seed laboratory established at Mile 91 and the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute.
The President urged increased private-sector participation, particularly in poultry production, as well as improved agricultural infrastructure (storage facilities, roads, markets, and milling plants) to support the next phase of Feed Salone. He announced that irrigation projects in Tormabum and Gbondapi were nearing completion and expressed hope that continued investment would eventually eliminate the need to import staples such as rice, onions, and fresh eggs.
“The Feed Salone initiative must be considered a national priority. “We are building a Sierra Leone where we can feed ourselves and improve our lives,” President Bio stated, urging the council to closely monitor progress, expand irrigated farmland, strengthen technical capacity, and mobilise additional investment.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Henry Musa Kpaka, provided an update on implementation progress and plans. He reported a significant drop in severe food insecurity from 28 per cent in 2023 to 13 per cent in 2025, as well as an increase in agricultural exports, particularly cocoa, which contributes to national income. The Ministry has also helped to improve rural infrastructure, such as feeder roads, bridges, milling, and storage facilities.
Kpaka stated that Sierra Leone has not imported seeds in the last three years due to strengthened domestic systems, and he provided figures on government-supported cultivated areas: 17,100 hectares of rice, 3,000 hectares of cocoa, 490 hectares of onions, and 670 hectares of maize. He stated that the government has increased mechanisation by bringing in 40 new tractors to support ongoing planting and production operations.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Minister outlined several priority initiatives that will deepen and expand the Feed Salone agenda. Two rice production clusters will be established, as will a Cocoa Board, an Agricultural Development Bank, and an agricultural insurance scheme, as well as expanded livestock and veterinary services.
Participants in the State House meeting reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to transforming agriculture into a modern, productive, and resilient sector capable of feeding the country while also driving economic development. They emphasised the importance of collaboration between the government, the private sector, farmers, and development partners in maintaining momentum.
According to officials, greater value addition through local processing of agricultural products is critical for increasing farmer incomes and strengthening the domestic economy. They also reiterated the importance of improving data systems and implementing technological solutions to inform planning, increase productivity, and track progress.
With clear targets set for 2026 and visible gains reported over the last three years, Sierra Leone’s Feed Salone initiative remains central to the country’s strategy for poverty reduction, food security, and long-term development. The President’s call for 2026 to be a year of action reflects a push to turn early gains into long-term structural change in the agricultural sector.
