The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has hosted a high-level delegation from the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) at its conference hall in the Youyi Building, Freetown. The meeting focused on exploring avenues for partnership in the implementation of President Julius Maada Bio’s flagship initiative, the Feed Salone Programme.
Welcoming the delegation, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Theresa Tenneh Dick, expressed appreciation for their visit and interest in Sierra Leone’s agricultural transformation agenda. She stated that the Feed Salone Programme is a bold effort to revamp the country’s food system and reduce its dependency on food imports.
“The initiative is structured around six key pillars aimed at achieving food sovereignty and inclusive economic growth,” Dr. Dick said. “These include boosting rice production, establishing seed banks, promoting private sector development, youth and women empowerment, enhancing irrigation and mechanization.”
She further revealed that Sierra Leone has historically spent over $240 million annually on food imports and through the Feed Salone initiative, the figure has gradually reduced to $160m. However, with partners onboard, the government is now investing in local farmers by providing inputs, access to finance infrastructures, extension services and market
Dr. Dick also highlighted the Ministry effort in pushing for innovation through climate-smart agricultural technologies, including the deployment of drones and robotics to improve production and processing across value chains.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Belgium, Ambassador Philip Bob Jusu who accompanied the OACPS team, said their visit is driven by the organization’s interest in understanding how it can align support with Sierra Leone’s development priorities, particularly in agriculture.
The Secretary-General of the OACPS, Mr. Moussa S. Batraki, reiterated the organization’s commitment to supporting its member states. He said the delegation’s visit follows an earlier engagement with President Bio, during which the President reaffirmed his government’s dedication to making Feed Salone a success.
“We are here to understand the strategy first-hand and explore how the OACPS can contribute to its implementation,” Mr. Batraki said.
The meeting marks a significant step toward strengthening international cooperation to drive agricultural transformation in Sierra Leone and aligns with broader efforts to achieve food security and economic resilience across OACPS member countries.
Various directors provided brief insights into their divisions’ contributions to the Feed Salone initiative, highlighting both achievements and existing gaps. The Deputy Chief Agriculture Officer, Aiah Joseph Thorlie, The Permanent Secretary, Madam Tengbeh along with other technical staff, were also in attendance.
