By: Aminata Sesay
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has successfully completed a week-long practical training course for 40 agricultural extension workers in Kenema and Moyamba districts as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen rice production and support the Government’s Feed Salone initiative.
The training was conducted under the Sierra Leone Rice Systems Capacity Strengthening Project, implemented through the Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP) and funded by the Japanese Social Development Fund (JSDF). It focused on equipping extension personnel with practical skills in climate-smart agriculture and improved agronomic practices for Inland Valley Swamp (IVS) rice production.
Speaking at the end of the training, the Director of the Extension Services Division, Alpha Yayah Mansaray, emphasized that building the capacity of extension workers is essential for transforming the country’s agricultural sector.
He stated: “We cannot achieve Feed Salone with a limited number of extension officers. Agricultural transformation depends on equipping farmers with the skills needed to increase production and productivity. This training is designed to provide extension actors with the knowledge required to support farmers in adopting climate-smart and improved rice production practices.”
FSRP Technical Specialist, Mohamed Sippo, highlighted the importance of practical, field-based learning, noting that such an approach has proven effective in other rice-producing countries.
He said: “We are deliberate in our approach. Practical solutions should be taught on the farm so that extension workers can quickly understand and effectively transfer the knowledge to farmers.”
Also speaking, Mohamed Deen Rogers, Focal Lead for the JSDF-funded initiative, explained that the project is aimed at strengthening the capacity of extension personnel who will, in turn, support thousands of farmers engaged in Inland Valley Swamp rice cultivation across the country.
He noted: “We have already trained 12 rice technicians, and this week we completed practical training for 40 extension workers who will now transfer this knowledge to farmers in their respective communities.”
Participants described the training as transformative. One of the trainees, Matilda Mammah from Moyamba, said the programme had significantly improved her understanding of modern rice cultivation techniques.
She explained: “Before the training, we advised farmers to broadcast rice seeds without fully understanding the economic losses associated with the practice. We have now acquired improved techniques that are far more effective, and I believe farmers who adopt them will achieve higher yields, contributing to improved food security and increased household incomes.”
The Ministry stated that the training forms part of broader efforts to strengthen agricultural extension services, promote climate-resilient farming practices, and improve rice productivity as Sierra Leone works toward greater food security and agricultural transformation.