In a significant boost to Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), with support from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) One Health Pandemic Fund project, officially commissioned 16 brand-new Toyota Hilux vehicles and 45 motorbikes on Tuesday 17th March 2026.
The handover ceremony took place at the Youyi Building grounds in Brookfields, Freetown, drawing members of the media, civil society, and senior government officials.
Receiving the assets, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, highlighted the longstanding and unprecedented partnership between MAFS and FAO. He stated that the new fleet, made possible through the One Health Pandemic Fund, would be distributed across the districts to enhance surveillance operations. The vehicles and motorbikes are intended to support District Agriculture Officers (DAOs) and veterinary officers in their efforts to combat zoonotic diseases. Dr. Kpaka advised ministry officials to maintain the assets responsibly and reaffirmed MAFS’s commitment to continued collaboration with FAO in planning and other strategic areas.
FAO Representative Mr. Saeed A. Bancie expressed delight at the milestone, describing it as a testament to the strong joint efforts between FAO and the Government of Sierra Leone. He stressed the importance of improved mobility in facilitating rapid responses to disease outbreaks, particularly in hard-to-reach communities. Mr. Bancie also noted that the support would bolster farmer trainings and strengthen the One Health approach. He assured that the impact of the vehicles and motorbikes would be felt nationwide, especially in communities dependent on agriculture. He further pledged FAO’s continued investment in technical capacity, policy support, and evidence-based solutions for the agricultural sector. He advised that the assets be deployed where needed most and used responsibly, emphasizing that the investment represents not only FAO’s support but also a contribution from the global community to Sierra Leone’s agricultural resilience.
Director of the Livestock and Veterinary Services Division, Mr. Saidu Bamayange, disclosed that the new assets have already helped the Ministry achieve 50 per cent of its 2026 targets. He described the donation as the largest support ever received from FAO and assured that the vehicles and motorbikes would be utilized effectively across districts for disease surveillance, detection, and timely response.
Mr. Bamayange further detailed the broader commitments of the One Health Pandemic Fund project, which include an in-service veterinary training programme, the distribution of 250 mobile phones to livestock owners in remote areas to assist in detecting sick animals through photos and videos, support for the enactment of two bills that have been before parliament for over 60 years, the development of related policy regulations, and the establishment of a new animal laboratory.
