By: Saidu Jalloh
Key stakeholders in Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector on Monday convened at the Bintumani Hotel in Freetown for a one-day Agricultural Insurance Workshop aimed at advancing the development of a national agricultural insurance policy.
The workshop, organized by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) and other stakeholders, with support from the European Union, sought to support the policy formulation process and identify practical strategies for expanding agricultural insurance coverage to farmers across the country.
The event brought together representatives from government institutions, financial service providers, insurance companies, development partners, farmer-based organizations, and other key stakeholders. Discussions focused on the opportunities and challenges associated with agricultural insurance, while also drawing lessons from successful experiences in other countries.
Representing the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, the Director of the Planning, Evaluation, Monitoring and Statistics Division (PEMSD), Umaru Sankoh, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to developing policies and mechanisms that improve farmers’ access to agricultural finance.
He emphasized that strengthening agricultural insurance is in line with Pillar Four of the Government’s Feed Salone Agenda, which prioritizes enhanced agricultural financing and investment as critical drivers of increased productivity and food security.
Participants highlighted the importance of agricultural insurance in protecting farmers against risks such as climate change, pest infestations, disease outbreaks, and other production-related shocks that continue to threaten agricultural output across Sierra Leone.
The discussions also explored how tailored insurance products can encourage greater investment in agriculture, improve farmers’ resilience to unexpected losses, and promote sustainable growth within the sector.
According to the organizers, the workshop forms part of broader efforts to establish a comprehensive framework for agricultural risk management. The initiative is expected to strengthen farmers’ capacity to withstand economic and environmental shocks while contributing to the objectives of the Government’s Feed Salone Transformation Agenda.
The workshop concluded with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to supporting the development of an effective and inclusive agricultural insurance policy that addresses the needs of Sierra Leone’s farming communities and enhances the long-term sustainability of the agricultural sector.