By: Aminata Sesay
Sierra Leone has officially launched its first-ever Agriculture Sector Skills Council (SSC4A), a groundbreaking initiative designed to tackle youth unemployment and food insecurity by aligning agricultural training with industry needs.
The Council, established by the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) in partnership with UNESCO under the BEAR III Project, will set occupational standards, forecast skills demand, and involve the private sector in curriculum development.
Agriculture accounts for over half of Sierra Leone’s GDP, yet only 15% of its 5.4 million hectares of arable land is cultivated. Officials argue that transforming the sector requires equipping farmers with modern skills, including mechanization, digital farming, and post-harvest management.
“Education is key, but TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) is the master key that will unlock prosperity in agriculture,” said Dr. Josephus Brimah, Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Theresa Tenneh Dick described the launch as timely for reducing rice imports, while Employment Minister Mohamed Rahman Swaray linked the Council to the “Feed Salone” strategy, which aims for food self-sufficiency by 2030. Education Minister Conrad Sackey referred to it as a “historic milestone” in President Bio’s Big Five agenda.
SSC4A Chairman Mahesh Nandwani emphasized the importance of skills training in creating job opportunities for youth and women. “We cannot continue to import what we can grow. Skills development is crucial to food security and economic growth,” he said.
In her keynote speech, Technical and Higher Education Minister Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie hailed the Council as a symbol of government and industry collaboration, stressing that every graduate must be “job-ready and innovative.”
Despite funding challenges, both officials and partners agree that the launch of the Council marks a turning point—shifting agriculture from subsistence farming to commercial growth and positioning Sierra Leone’s workforce at the heart of national development.