By: Saidu Jalloh
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) has received 16 vehicles and 45 motorbikes from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to enhance agricultural field operations and disease surveillance nationwide.
The support, delivered on Tuesday, is aimed at improving coordination, supervision, and service delivery across farming communities, particularly under the One Health approach to tackling zoonotic diseases.
FAO Country Representative Saeed A. Bancie stated that the assets were procured through the One Health Pandemic Fund Programme, implemented by FAO with financial backing from the World Bank and its partners. He noted that the initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen national systems for agricultural monitoring and livestock disease preparedness.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Henry Musa Kpaka, who received the items on behalf of the government, said the intervention would significantly enhance the work of District Agriculture Officers and Veterinary Officers across the country.
He described vehicles and motorbikes as critical to improving mobility for field staff, noting that limited transportation has long hindered effective service delivery. He added that the support is expected to boost agricultural productivity and improve food production outcomes nationwide.
The intervention also complements ongoing investments in the country’s veterinary services, including the establishment of a Central Veterinary Laboratory in Makeni, aimed at strengthening Sierra Leone’s capacity to prevent and control animal diseases.
