Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security

MAFS - IFAD wrap-up Two-week Implementation Support Mission for the Livestock and Livelihoods Development Project.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)'s Country Director for Sierra Leone and Liberia, Ms Pascaline Barankeba, noted that the strong and longstanding partnership between IFAD and the Government of Sierra Leone was once again reaffirmed during the Implementation Support Mission for the Livestock and Livelihoods Development Project (LLDP). She also commended the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Honourable Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, for his leadership and continued commitment to the design, launch, and implementation of the LLDP. The LLDP is a Government flagship project officially launched by His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio in October 2025.

Madam Barankeba commended the LLDP Project Implementation Unit (PIU) for the progress achieved during the project’s first six months of implementation. She explained that the mission aimed to provide strategic and technical support, assess implementation progress, identify gaps and bottlenecks, and strengthen readiness for the effective delivery of sustainable livestock-based livelihoods for rural communities especially women and youth.

Madam Barankeba further noted that the mission came at a critical stage following the official launch of the project by H.E. the President of Sierra Leone, and the completion of the start-up workshop, emphasizing that the LLDP must now transition from a well-designed project to a well-delivered programme with tangible impact.

She highlighted that the multidisciplinary mission team was deliberately assembled to provide expertise across key areas of the program to boost its implementation and impact on rural economy and livelihood.

She explained that the LLDP was designed to contribute to poverty reduction, improved food security and nutrition among rural households, and increase employment and economic opportunities for rural women and youth.

Barankeba called on all stakeholders to strengthen coordination, maintain momentum, and accelerate implementation to ensure the successful delivery and long-term impact of the project.

The Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to the timely and effective implementation of the LLDP. He emphasized that the project is a flagship intervention under the Government’s “Feed Salone” strategy and stressed the need for accelerated implementation to ensure visible and measurable impact before 2028.
He urged the PIU to ensure the timely delivery of activities to improve livelihoods in rural communities.

MAFS Livestock Division Holds Community Engagements in Cross-Border Districts for the Establishment of Animal Quarantine Facilities

With funding from the World Bank Pandemic Fund, the Livestock and Veterinary Services Division under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) held stakeholder engagement meetings for the establishment of animal quarantine facilities in Falaba District and Kambia District.

The events primarily targeted farmers, traders, religious leaders, and local authorities. And were held concurrently: from the 7th - 9th in Falaba and from the 5-8th in Kambia.

Giving an overview in Kambia District, the Assistant Director for Livestock, Mr. Salam Saidu, shared his experiences during the West African Ebola epidemic and Monkeypox outbreaks. He said, “We experienced these crises, and they shaped our skills in fighting animal diseases.” He noted that Sierra Leone previously scored only 30% in animal disease surveillance, while about 75% of dangerous diseases affecting humans originate from animals. Due to this global concern, the Pandemic Fund was introduced to support countries in strengthening their health and livestock systems. Sierra Leone successfully applied and was selected to benefit from the project aimed at strengthening the livestock sector.

A similar statement was delivered by Mr. Sundu Marrah, Deputy Secretary at MAFS, during his overview in Falaba District.

Mr. Joseph M. Samai, the Animal Production Officer at MAFS, emphasized that Falaba District and Kambia District are among the districts selected for the establishment of quarantine facilities aimed at strengthening surveillance across border-crossing communities. “We need land and the participation of local authorities in establishing these facilities because they will belong to your communities,” Samai told the local authorities. He further disclosed that Parliament would soon pass into law the Animal Health Bill, which seeks to monitor the wellbeing of animals and animal products, as well as ensure the issuance of certificates for animal movement.

The World Bank representative, Madam Christiana Fortune, who also serves as an Environmental Safeguards Specialist under the Integrated Health Projects Administration Unit (IHPAU), acknowledged the contributions of all participants. She emphasized the importance of proper environmental, social, and waste management throughout the implementation of the project. She also noted the need to work closely with landowners to obtain the required information and documentation to be submitted to the World Bank.

A Member of Parliament, Hon. Mohamed Tarawallie Fofanah of Constituency 057 in Kambia District, also welcomed the initiative and highlighted the importance of supporting the project. He praised the government and local authorities for the efforts in putting structures that can protect the people and create opportunities for Sierra Leone.

Stakeholders in both districts welcomed the initiative and agreed to provide land and leadership support for the establishment of these life-saving facilities. Both meetings were held at the District Council Halls and brought together various stakeholders to discuss the establishment of the facilities.

IFAD and MAFS Kick-Start Implementation Support Mission on LLDP with Visit to Kenema

On Friday, 8th May 2026, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Implementation Support Mission, together with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Livestock and Livelihoods Development Project (LLDP), visited the District Agriculture Office in Kenema District as part of the project’s implementation support mission.

The visit aimed to engage livestock farmers through direct discussions to better understand their farming practices, achievements, and challenges.

Speaking during the engagement, IFAD Country Director, Pascaline Barankeba, said the LLDP project is designed to address rural poverty affecting livestock farmers across the eleven operational districts of the project in Sierra Leone.

“Our mission is simple: IFAD is here to empower farmers to provide nutritious food and income for their families and communities. But we cannot do it alone; we need farmers to take ownership of the support and multiply its impact until it reaches every Sierra Leonean,” she said.

On behalf of the farmers in Kenema, Madam Safinatu Bokarie explained that, through the support they have been receiving from the Ministry of Agriculture and donor-funded projects supported by IFAD, they have been able to improve their livelihoods through farming.

Madam Bokarie assured the mission of their full commitment to supporting the implementation of the livestock project under the Feed Salone Initiative.

The mission will continue in Bombali and other districts in the coming days.

Sierra Leone and other African Countries Sign Coffee Value Chain Declaration in Morocco

The declaration was signed during the High-Level Meeting on the Regional Coffee Value Chain in Africa, held in Marrakech on 6th May. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Henry Musa Kpaka, and the Deputy Minister of Finance, Kadiatu Allie, represented Sierra Leone. Minister Kpaka signed the declaration on behalf of the country.

According to Minister Kpaka, the declaration directly supports the Feed Salone agenda by creating new opportunities to strengthen coffee farming, support cooperatives, improve post-harvest handling, attract investment, and increase export earnings.

“We will use this platform to promote Sierra Leone’s unique coffee species, Stenophylla, which is climate-resilient and driven by high market demand,” he stated.

For farmers and rural communities, he noted that the impact would be practical and far-reaching, including better production systems, stronger market linkages, improved incomes, more jobs, and greater value retention within coffee-producing countries.

The declaration also recognizes the role of key partners, including the Islamic Development Bank, African Coffee Hub, and OCP Africa, in supporting financing, soil health, farmer training, quality systems, aggregation, logistics, and market access.

At the Regional Forum on Coffee Value Chain Development in Africa held in Marrakech on the 5th May, in Morocco, co-organized by the Islamic Development Bank, the Kingdom of Morocco, the African Coffee Hub, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, aims to support African coffee-producing countries to shift from raw coffee exports to value addition.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, alongside the Deputy Minister I of Finance, Hon. Kadiatu Allie, represented Sierra Leone and both highlighted interventions on how the country is improving its coffee sector: from raw coffee to cocoa butter, constructing bridges and feeder roads in cocoa belt areas, leading to market access and other opportunities.

At the Forum, Minister Kpaka described as a coffee specie native to Sierra Leone, known for its distinctive quality potential and ability to grow under warmer conditions, making it an important asset as the global coffee sector faces increasing climate pressure.

Sierra Leone signed an MOU between the country and African Coffee Hub Invest. The partnership will create a framework for technical cooperation in strengthening Sierra Leone’s coffee sector, including post-harvest handling, quality control, traceability, aggregation, logistics, branding, value addition, investment preparation, and market access.

"This partnership is important to us as coffee has a big potential to increase farmer income, create jobs, exports, and attract investment. We will move beyond raw coffee exports to processed Coffee". Said Minister Kpaka

Today, the Feed Salone initiative has evolved into a vibrant business platform for many Sierra Leoneans, especially young people. In the past, choosing farming as a career was often misunderstood—people would assume you were uneducated or lacked ambition.

Fast forward three years into the Feed Salone journey, and that narrative is changing. We are now witnessing a shift, with young people leaving traditional office jobs to invest in agribusiness, champion food systems, and proudly showcase the impact they are making as farmers.

For those who still believe that food sovereignty and economic growth happen overnight, it is time to rethink that mindset. Real progress requires patience, commitment, and collective effort. Let us support and patronize government initiatives, believe in our own potential, and take deliberate steps to grow the food we consume daily. This is how we build national pride and dignity.

Sierra Leone is richly endowed—with over 5 million hectares of arable land, 6–8 months of rainfall, and a youthful population that makes up about 60% of the country. Combined with strong political will, these resources form a powerful foundation to drive this vision forward and make it a reality for all.

What we need now are people who will take the Feed Salone initiative from vision to action. Doing so will make food more affordable, strengthen our foreign exchange position, and create sustainable jobs for countless Sierra Leoneans.

Let us set aside politics when it comes to agriculture. This sector requires the contribution of everyone if we are to achieve the food security we all desire. As a Ministry, we deeply appreciate everyone who believes that, together, we can truly Feed Salone.

For those who see agriculture as a business opportunity, poultry farming has emerged as one of the most lucrative areas to invest in today.

President Bio Commissions $50M Flour Mill Expansion in Freetown, Boosting Industrial Growth and Food Security

Thursday, 30 April 2026 – Freetown
-President Julius Maada Bio has officially commissioned the expansion of the Sierra Leone Flour Mill Limited at Cline Town in Freetown, marking a significant milestone in the country’s drive toward economic diversification and industrial value addition.

The commissioning ceremony brought together senior government officials and private sector stakeholders, including the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka.

During his Keynote address, President Bio stated that the investment reflects growing investor confidence in Sierra Leone’s economy and underscores the government’s commitment to transforming locally sourced raw materials into finished products. He noted that such initiatives are critical to strengthening domestic production capacity and reducing import dependency.

Valued at over $50 million, the project aligns with the government’s Feed Salone Initiative, which prioritizes private sector-led agricultural transformation and the enhancement of food security, particularly for widely consumed staples such as bread and other wheat-based products.

The Chairman of Sierra Leone Flour Mill Limited, Alhaji Amadu Juldeh Sowe, emphasized that the expansion would not have been possible without strong presidential support. He highlighted its potential to create jobs, stimulate industrial growth, and contribute meaningfully to national development.

Sierra Leone hosts Expert Group Meeting and Ministerial Conference ahead of Regional Investment Summit

Stakeholders from across West Africa have concluded a two-day high-level meeting in Freetown aimed at strengthening regional agribusiness ahead of a major investment summit scheduled for November. The Expert Group Meeting and Ministerial Conference, held at the Bintumani Conference Centre from 29 to 30 April, organized by Presidential Initiative for Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF) in collaboration with relevant MDAs, brought together ministers, technical experts, development partners, researchers and private sector representatives.

The discussions form part of preparations for the 2026 West Africa Integration and Investment Summit (WAIIS), expected to convene later this year under the chairmanship of Julius Maada Bio, who currently leads the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Stakeholders identified agribusiness as a key driver of economic growth, job creation and food security across the region. Talks focused on how West African countries can move beyond fragmented agricultural systems and build integrated value chains linking production, storage, processing, logistics and markets.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, chaired the agribusiness and food systems ministerial roundtable. He also led technical discussions on practical measures needed to unlock investment and deepen regional economic integration.

Breakout sessions examined existing challenges, including weak agro-processing capacity, limited storage infrastructure, and inefficiencies in cross-border trade systems. Stakeholders also highlighted the need to develop bankable, investment-ready projects and strengthen regional standards and logistics corridors. The meeting is expected to inform key recommendations for the forthcoming summit, including contributions to a proposed Freetown Communiqué outlining shared priorities for the region. They also aligned discussions with Sierra Leone’s national agricultural drive, the Feed Salone, which aims to boost local production, reduce food imports and attract private sector investment.

Stakeholders said strengthening regional agribusiness systems could help create jobs, expand markets for farmers, reduce post-harvest losses and increase local processing capacity.

As preparations continue for the November summit, Sierra Leone has signalled its intention to play a leading role in shaping practical solutions for agricultural transformation across West Africa.

MAFS and Partners Unveil Beta Feed Salone Monitoring Platform for Stakeholder Review and Input

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), in collaboration with IDinsight and key partners, convened a demonstration session of the beta version of the Feed Salone Monitoring Platform at the Ministry’s Conference Hall on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.

The session brought together a cross-section of stakeholders, including technical experts, policymakers, and implementing partners, all of whom play critical roles in advancing the Feed Salone initiative.

The primary objective of the presentation was to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to assess the progress made in developing the platform. Participants were invited to critically review its functionality, structure, and user interface, while identifying gaps and proposing practical recommendations for improvement.

Discussions during the session focused on enhancing the platform’s efficiency, scalability, and responsiveness to the evolving demands of agricultural data management.Once fully operational, the Feed Salone Monitoring Platform, named “MAFS Insight,” is expected to serve as a centralized system that harmonizes all MAFS-related data into a single, coherent framework.

This will significantly improve data accessibility, streamline reporting processes, and strengthen data-driven planning and coordination across the sector.