By: Saidu Jalloh
In a significant step toward enhancing food security and promoting climate-smart agriculture, the Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), has launched a pioneering biochar research initiative. The project underscores the government’s commitment to food safety, sustainable farming, and innovation-driven development within Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector.
On January 24, 2025, six distinguished scientists were awarded adaptive research grants at the Rokupr Agricultural Research Centre (RARC) in Kambia District. Among them is Mr. Hindolo Andrew Bebeley, a promising Soil and Water Engineer, whose project “Application of Biochar to Improve Soil Fertility, Water Retention, and Enhance Cassava Productivity on Degraded Agricultural Land” is expected to significantly contribute to soil rehabilitation and improved crop yields nationwide.
To formally launch the project, Mr. Bebeley and his team held a one-day inception meeting on June 20, 2025, at the Sierra Leone Seed Certification Agency (SLeSCA) Conference Room, located within the Magbosi Land, Water, and Environment Research Centre compound. The session provided a strategic platform to outline the project’s objectives, research methodology, and implementation roadmap. It emphasized the importance of institutional collaboration and scientific rigor.
The research will be conducted across four major agro-ecological zones in Sierra Leone:
SLARI Agricultural Technology and Innovation Park at Komrabai Village, Port Loko District (Northwest), Masankay Village, Tonkolili District (North), Gborbu Village, Moyamba District (South), Blama Village, Kenema District (East).
These locations were carefully chosen to ensure the findings are scalable and applicable across diverse farming systems in the country.
The inception meeting brought together key stakeholders, including Dr. Prince E. Norman, Deputy Director General for Research, Technology, and Innovation Development at SLARI; a representative from a Canadian university highlighting the growing international collaboration in Sierra Leone’s research landscape senior SLARI officials, and other prominent scientists. Participants provided technical guidance and strategic recommendations to reinforce the project’s scientific quality and practical impact.
In their remarks, Dr. Norman and the Officer-in-Charge of the center, Dr. Martha S. E. Williams-Ngegba, commended Mr. Bebeley for his initiative and encouraged him to maintain a collaborative and focused approach throughout the project. They also emphasized the importance of building strong research networks to drive innovation, facilitate peer learning, and contribute to national development goals.
This initiative marks a renewed commitment under the FSRP and the government’s Feed Salone agenda to empower young researchers, improve soil health, and promote sustainable cassava production key components in Sierra Leone’s pursuit of food security and resilience to climate change.