By Tamba Tengbeh.
The Sierra Leone Rice Agro-Industrial Cluster Project (SL-RAIC), funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Government of Sierra Leone, is making remarkable progress in advancing rice production and value chain development in the Southern region.
The project is directly aligned with the government’s flagship Feed Salone initiative, which aims to achieve national food self-sufficiency and economic transformation through agriculture.
At the heart of this intervention are two modern rice processing factories under construction in Torma Bum (Bonthe District) and Gbondapi (Pujehun District).
According to John Paul Maada Sinah, Project Manager of SL-RAIC, both sites are in advanced stages of development, with physical structures already taking shape.
Mr. Sinah disclosed that the project has commenced large-scale cultivation of ‘boli’ land—fertile lowland areas ideal for rice farming—in both locations for this cropping season “We are targeting to cultivate over 1,000 hectares of land this planting season, supporting smallholder farmers through a collaborative and business model involving five implementing partners,” he said.
The implementing partners—Bluetech UK Group, Kondibu, Albahjah rice company, Bai Agro-Tech, and Pujehun Youth for Development—are contributing 40 p[ercent of the cost related to land preparation and seed provision, a model that encourages joint investment and accountability while empowering farmers.
“This is a transformational project that goes beyond production,” Mr. Sinah emphasized. “We are in full gear to deliver on the government’s food security agenda by improving productivity, establishing processing capacity, and creating sustainable market linkages.”
Once completed in 2026, the rice processing factories are expected to process thousands of metric tons of locally produced rice annually. The facilities will not only reduce post-harvest losses but also enhance quality, packaging, and market competitiveness. In addition, they are projected to generate hundreds of direct and indirect job opportunities, further boosting local economies in the Southern Region.
“This project is not just about farming; it’s about developing the entire agricultural landscape of the country,” Sinah stressed. “We are laying the foundation for a self-reliant Sierra Leone where farmers are empowered, rural economies thrive, and imported rice becomes a thing of the past.”
SL-RAIC is supporting the implementation of the Feed Salone initiative, which envisions a resilient, inclusive, and market-driven food system.
Through innovation, partnerships, and infrastructure development, the project is setting a new benchmark for agricultural industrialization in Sierra Leone.
