By: Mamajah Jalloh
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, has been appointed Chair of the Africa Rice Centre (AfricaRice) Council of Ministers, securing Sierra Leone a prominent leadership position in the continent’s agricultural research and development sector.
The appointment was announced at the Council’s 34th Ordinary Session, held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on 6 November 2026.
As Chair, Dr. Kpaka will lead the Council, the institution’s highest ministerial governing body, which provides strategic direction and policy oversight across its 28 African member countries. The Council plays a key role in promoting agricultural research, improving rice production, advancing innovation and strengthening food security across the continent.
His appointment comes at a critical time as AfricaRice prepares to implement its Institutional Strategy for 2027–2035, amid renewed efforts by African governments to reduce reliance on imported rice and build competitive domestic rice industries.
For Sierra Leone, the appointment aligns with President Julius Maada Bio’s Feed Salone initiative, which places agriculture at the centre of the country’s national development agenda.
Government figures indicate that Sierra Leone’s rice self-sufficiency increased from 68 per cent in 2023 to 73 per cent in 2025, following investments in agricultural production, mechanization, improved seeds and infrastructure.
In his new capacity, Dr. Kpaka will preside over high-level ministerial deliberations and contribute to strategic decisions on agricultural research, technological innovation and cooperation among member countries.
“I accepted to lead great minds because we all share the same goal: to use agriculture to feed ourselves, create jobs, and reduce dependence on imports that contribute to African poverty,” the Minister stated.
His appointment is also expected to strengthen collaboration between regional agricultural research institutions and national transformation programmes, while providing Sierra Leone with a stronger voice in continental agricultural policy discussions.
The development comes as African countries intensify efforts to boost domestic rice production, strengthen food systems and achieve greater agricultural self-sufficiency.