By: Saidu Jalloh
The Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI), in collaboration with the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and Seed Systems Group (SSG), organized a field day at the Rokupr Agricultural Research Centre (RARC) in Kambia District.
The event was designed to engage farmers in a Participatory Varietal Selection (PVS) process, allowing them to evaluate and select superior rice varieties that could later be promoted for widespread cultivation and seed multiplication.
Officer-in-Charge of the Rokupr Agricultural Research Centre, Dr Adams S. Kanu, warmly welcomed the team from SSG and highlighted the significance of partnerships in advancing SLARI’s agricultural research efforts. He emphasized that collaboration with key stakeholders like AGRA and SSG plays a pivotal role in enhancing the nation’s agricultural productivity. “Having enumerators in the field with farmers is essential,” Dr. Kanu noted. “It allows us to capture the farmers’ perspectives on different varieties and understand the reasons behind their preferences. This participatory approach is crucial if Sierra Leone is to achieve food security through seed self-sufficiency.”
The field day showcased 28 rice varieties that had been tested at various locations across Sierra Leone under the guidance of SLARI’s research team. These varieties were part of a broader initiative supported by AGRA, which aligns with the government’s “Feed Salone” agenda. The agenda aims to boost food production and address the nation’s challenges of low crop yields.
Dr. Nabieu Kamara, Team Lead of the project, expressed appreciation for AGRA’s timely support, which, he said, was instrumental in enhancing SLARI’s rice research. “Low yields have been a significant obstacle for farmers in Sierra Leone, but the Participatory Varietal Selection approach empowers farmers by allowing them to choose rice varieties that are not only high-yielding but also resilient to adverse environmental conditions,” Dr. Kamara stated. “This initiative is directly aligned with President Bio’s agenda to enhance food security under the Feed Salone program.”
Professor Issoufou Kapran of Seed Systems Group lauded the efforts of the SLARI team, stressing the importance of bridging the gap between research and practical farming. “Our goal is to ensure that seeds developed through research are made accessible to farmers,” Professor Kapran remarked. “By involving farmers in the varietal selection process, we are essentially speeding up the adoption of improved rice varieties that can transform their farming practices and yields.”
The Participatory Varietal Selection (PVS) process involves farmers directly in evaluating rice varieties, enabling them to assess traits such as taste, yield, and resilience. By allowing farmers to have a say in the selection of varieties, SLARI, and its partners aim to promote the adoption of rice strains that are best suited to the local farming conditions, thus improving productivity and overall food security in Sierra Leone.
As the nation continues to face challenges in agricultural production, initiatives like the PVS provide a practical solution to address low crop yields. Farmers’ participation in these research-driven activities not only fosters ownership but also ensures that the selected rice varieties align with their preferences and the conditions of their farms.
Professor Kapran reiterated SSG’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s agricultural development in his concluding remarks. “Farmers’ involvement in varietal selection means they are more likely to adopt the improved varieties, which is a crucial step in our efforts to ensure seed security and enhance food production across the country,” he said.
This collaboration between SLARI, AGRA, and SSG marks a significant milestone in Sierra Leone’s journey toward achieving seed self-sufficiency and ensuring that the country’s farmers are equipped with the right tools and knowledge to increase their yields and contribute to national food security.
The participatory field day at Rokupr Agricultural Research Center has brought farmers closer to the research process and underscored the critical role of partnerships in agricultural development. With the joint efforts of SLARI, AGRA, and SSG, Sierra Leone is taking concrete steps toward realizing its ambition of becoming a food-secure nation, with rice at the forefront of its agricultural transformation.
