By: Saidu Jalloh
The Food System Resilience Program (FSRP), funded by the World Bank and the Government of Sierra Leone, has launched an Innovation Platform for rice in Port Loko district and Cassava in Moyamba district. These platforms aim to bring together various stakeholders to share common problems and develop sustainable solutions.
Speaking at the rice Innovation Platform launch in Port Loko, Chief Agriculture Officer Professor Abdulai Jalloh emphasized the national importance of the Feed Salone agenda, urging everyone to support its success. Professor Jalloh praised FSRP for creating these platforms, which enable like-minded actors to coordinate, interact, and address common challenges. He highlighted the critical efforts needed from every player in the rice and cassava sectors to ensure the success of Feed Salone. He expressed optimism that with collective effort, Sierra Leone could start exporting rice by 2028.
Professor Jalloh encouraged the actors to view agribusiness as a serious venture and to adopt practices aligned with President Bio’s vision for Feed Salone, stressing the importance of the fight against hunger and poverty.
In Moyamba, the Cassava Innovation Platform was launched yesterday. Haja Myers, the Agribusiness Specialist for FSRP, highlighted the gains in the cassava value chain and urged the stakeholders to collaborate, innovate, and apply sustainable practices.
The stakeholders involved include farmers, transporters, traders, service providers, civil society representatives, researchers, and financial institutions. This initiative is set to expand to the Koinadugu District tomorrow.
