By: Saidu Jalloh
The Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP) is intensifying efforts to transform agriculture into a profitable and sustainable business for young people through its Matching Grant Scheme, with beneficiaries reporting increased production, job creation, and improved livelihoods.
One of the programme’s beneficiaries, Sherilyn Cowan, a Computer Science student and emerging agripreneur, has successfully expanded her maize farming enterprise from a small-scale operation into a large commercial venture with support from the initiative.
FSRP officials disclosed that Cowan first received assistance in 2024 through the provision of improved maize seeds to cultivate 60 hectares of land after demonstrating significant potential in maize production. The support was designed to help young entrepreneurs capitalize on the growing demand for maize, particularly from poultry farmers who depend on it as a key ingredient in animal feed production.
Reflecting on the intervention, Cowan said the programme dramatically increased her production capacity and enabled her group to scale up its operations.
“I had been farming on a small scale, cultivating about five hectares for several years. When FSRP supported us with seeds for 60 hectares, it transformed our operations and significantly increased our production,” she stated.
Following the success of the initial support, Cowan and members of her women-led group, SLENC, were awarded a Matching Grant in 2025 after an assessment of their performance, commitment, and potential for growth in agricultural production.
The grant enabled the group not only to expand its maize farming enterprise but also to venture into value addition through the processing of poultry feed.
According to the beneficiaries, the intervention has helped increase the group’s cultivated land from 60 hectares to 150 hectares. Plans are currently underway to process the ongoing harvest into chicken feed at the end of the farming season, further enhancing the value chain and market opportunities.
Cowan revealed that the growing enterprise has created employment opportunities for more than 200 young people, with women accounting for approximately 70 percent of the workforce.
She noted that the project has not only generated jobs but has also improved household incomes and strengthened food production within the community.
FSRP representatives emphasized that the Matching Grant Scheme is specifically designed to encourage youth participation in agriculture by providing financial and technical support to promising agribusiness ventures. They noted that the initiative is helping to change perceptions of agriculture from a subsistence activity to a profitable and sustainable business sector.
The programme further highlighted that increased maize production and value addition are contributing significantly to food and nutrition security while supporting broader economic growth in rural communities.
Through the Matching Grant Scheme and other strategic interventions, FSRP continues to promote youth-led agribusinesses as part of its broader efforts to strengthen Sierra Leone’s food systems, enhance agricultural productivity, and build resilience across the sector.
The success of beneficiaries such as Sherilyn Cowan demonstrates the transformative impact of targeted investments in agriculture and underscores the potential of young entrepreneurs to drive sustainable economic growth and food security in Sierra Leone.