By Forum staff writer
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Dr Henry Musa Kpaka has formally launched the Ministry’s 2026 service delivery agenda with a strong focus on citizen engagement research and practical action to advance national food security. The launch took place at Njala University where the minister engaged students handed over four irrigated greenhouses and transferred the Chinese 14th Phase Agricultural Technology Facility to the university.
The intervention marks an early step in implementing the government’s agricultural priorities for the new year under the Feed Salone initiative. The irrigated greenhouses were supported by the World Bank funded Food System Resilience Program FSRP as part of efforts to strengthen climate smart agriculture research innovation and skills development.
Handing over the facilities Dr Kpaka underscored the importance of linking academic research with national development goals. He described Njala University as a strategic partner in agricultural transformation and stressed that the facilities would enhance hands on learning youth empowerment and year round agricultural production. According to the minister the investment is designed to support Feed Salone by improving productivity nutrition and resilience within the food system.
As part of the event Dr Kpaka also performed a symbolic harvest of sweet peppers grown under the greenhouse system. Speaking during the exercise he clarified that Feed Salone goes beyond rice production and includes strong investment in vegetable farming through FSRP support. He encouraged women and young people to embrace vegetable production describing it as a short cycle labour friendly venture capable of generating income and improving household nutrition.
The FSRP Project Manager Dr Kepifri Lakoh said the greenhouse initiative was intentionally designed to benefit women and students in order to promote inclusive growth and nutrition sensitive education. He explained that the investment aligns with FSRP’s broader objective of building resilient food systems capable of withstanding climate and economic shocks. According to him modern infrastructure at Njala University will facilitate innovation technology transfer and evidence based solutions for farmers across Sierra Leone.
Receiving the facilities the Vice Chancellor of Njala University expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and its development partners. He said the greenhouses and agricultural facilities would significantly strengthen teaching research and community outreach while supporting national food security and agricultural development priorities.
The engagement with students formed a key part of the minister’s visit reinforcing the government’s emphasis on youth inclusion and practical skills development in agriculture. Students were encouraged to see agriculture as a viable and innovative career path rather than a subsistence activity.
The initiative reflects continued collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and development partners including the World Bank World Food Programme International Fund for Agricultural Development and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.
As 2026 begins the Njala University intervention signals a results driven approach focused on research innovation youth participation and climate smart solutions to strengthen Sierra Leone’s food systems and advance the Feed Salone agenda.
