By: Saidu Jalloh
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, officially launched the harvesting of Feed Salone rice at Magbass and Mapemah in Tonkolili and Bombali Districts. This milestone responds to President Julius Maada Bio’s call to farm and “Feed Salone,” emphasizing the nation’s commitment to boosting local food production.
During a stakeholder engagement at Magbass, Dr. Kpaka lauded the efforts of farmers and the Food System Resilience Program (FSRP), which supported the cultivation of 850 hectares of rice in Tonkolili, yielding an expected 9,000 metric tons to feed the district. “We are delighted to learn that the price of a cup of rice in Magbass has dropped to Le3 due to Feed Salone. If we continue on this path, we can feed ourselves, build resilience in local production, and ensure food security,” the Minister stated. He further urged farmers to double their efforts to sustain and expand the initiative.
Dr. Kpaka said, “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 acknowledged challenges faced this year, including delays in providing machinery, herbicides, seeds, and storage facilities, and assured stakeholders that these issues would be addressed to enhance productivity in the next farming season.
At Mapemah, where over 3,000 hectares of rice were cultivated under FSRP support, community members showcased their contributions to the FeedSalone initiative. Veteran politician Alpha Timbo commended Minister Kpaka for transforming agriculture in the country within two years. “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 said.
Dr. Kpaka also visited the Teko Livestock Research Centre in Makeni, where he engaged with staff to understand their challenges and identify solutions to improve the sector. He highlighted upcoming opportunities, including the $105 million livestock project set to commence in January 2025. Plans to enhance the poultry sector and introduce a Farmer’s Registry to ensure genuine farmers receive support.
“We are delighted to have signed a game-changing livestock project that has the potential to revolutionize the sector. My vision is to reduce the importation of livestock products, and we are steadily moving toward that goal. By supporting Feed Salone, we can address hunger and poverty in Sierra Leone,” the Minister emphasized.
Minister Kpaka will continue his Feed Salone rice harvesting tour in Kambia tomorrow. He will focus on furthering the initiative and ensuring its sustainability across the country.