By: Saidu Jalloh
Celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Feed Salone Initiative and commemorating World Food Day in Kailahun District, the Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF), Dr. Kandeh Yumkella advocates for the role of agricultural expansion in providing economic opportunities beyond traditional sustenance farming.
Drawing attention to the agricultural sector’s untapped potential, the chairman of PI-CREF underscored the need to reimagine farming as a catalyst for economic transformation. By steering away from a myopic focus on staple crops such as rice, he urged stakeholders to embrace a broader vision that encompasses innovative practices and diverse agricultural products.
“Agriculture is not only about growing rice and eating; it’s about diversifying our economy,” said Chairman Yumkella
Dr. Yumkella thanked HE President Bio “for leading from the front and providing visionary leadership in seeking transformative development for the nation.” Dr. Yumkella also thanks and appreciates the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, for steering the Feed Salone initiative and coordinating the farmers well.
In his keynote address, His Excellency President Bio thanked the people of Sierra Leone for heeding his call to Feed Salone and said there is more to do. “I am encouraging young people of this country to embark on farming as it will help the entire nation’s development.”
H.E. President Bio also extended his immense thanks and appreciation to the Chairman of PI-CREF for his tremendous efforts in attracting investors to the Feed Salone Programme and particularly thanked him for organizing a successful Roundtable in Vienna, Austria, earlier this year, where over $800 million was raised in pledges.
President Bio commended Chairman Yumkella’s efforts and said he has also tasked him with ensuring a reliable energy supply in the country to connect Agriculture and Energy, as both are interrelated.
Yumkella’s impassioned plea resonated with the audience, sparking conversations about the critical link between agricultural diversification and sustainable economic growth. By harnessing the richness of the land and exploring new avenues for agricultural development, Chairman Yumkella envisioned a future where farmers could unlock their full economic potential while propelling national prosperity.
As the World Food Day Celebration concluded on a positive note by building on gains made over the last year, Chairman Yumkella’s words lingered in attendees’ minds, igniting a renewed sense of urgency to revolutionize the agricultural landscape. With President Bio’s visionary leadership, the journey towards a vibrant and diversified economy, cultivated by dedicated farmers and guided by innovative thinking, now stands within reach as the country is on track to feed itself in the distant future.
