By Sajor Jalloh
Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, officially launched the harvesting of FeedSalone rice at Magbass and Mapemah in Tonkolili and Bombali Districts on November 18, 2024. This initiative aligns with President Julius Maada Bio’s call to “Feed Salone” and strengthens Sierra Leone’s commitment to improving local food production and ensuring food security.
During a stakeholder engagement in Magbass, Minister Kpaka commended the efforts of local farmers and the Food System Resilience Program (FSRP), which supported the cultivation of 850 hectares of rice in Tonkolili. The harvest is expected to yield 9,000 metric tons, aiming to meet the district’s food needs. “We are delighted to learn that the price of a cup of rice in Magbass has dropped to Le3 due to FeedSalone. If we continue on this path, we can feed ourselves, build resilience in local production, and ensure food security,” said Minister Kpaka.
The Minister also highlighted his goal to reduce rice prices by empowering farmers and promoting increased local production. “My goal is to lower rice prices by empowering farmers to produce more and become millionaires. This will attract more people into farming, creating sustainable livelihoods. With increased production and income, prices will automatically decline,” he emphasized.
Acknowledging challenges faced during the current season, such as delays in providing essential farming inputs, Dr. Kpaka assured stakeholders that measures would be taken to address these issues for improved productivity in the next planting season.
At Mapemah, over 3,000 hectares of rice were cultivated with FSRP support. Local farmers showcased their contributions to the FeedSalone initiative, with veteran politician Alpha Timbo praising Dr. Kpaka’s leadership. “President Bio chose the right messenger to save Sierra Leoneans from hunger and poverty. This year, we cultivated 30,000 hectares nationwide. Your relentless leadership has shown that feeding Salone is possible,” Timbo stated.
Dr. Kpaka also visited the Teko Livestock Research Center in Makeni, engaging with staff to address challenges in the livestock sector. The Minister highlighted a $105 million livestock project set to commence in January 2025, which aims to enhance poultry production and reduce the importation of livestock products.
“The FeedSalone initiative plays a critical role in addressing hunger and poverty in Sierra Leone. With this new livestock project, we are moving towards reducing the importation of livestock products and boosting local production,” Minister Kpaka concluded.
The Minister’s FeedSalone rice harvesting tour will continue in Kambia, where efforts to expand and sustain the initiative will be further pursued.
