Paving the way for a Resilient and Prosperous Feed Salone: Integrating Energy Solutions for Agricultural Productivity

FREETOWN, 18th May, 2024

Following a successful participation at the IEA Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa in Paris with His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, Hon. Dr. Yumkella returned to Sierra Leone with renewed vigor to continue his work on climate change, renewable energy and food security – three pillars that are critical to Sierra Leone’s sustainable development trajectory.

To support President Bio’s “Feed Salone” agenda, Chairman Kandeh Yumkella and Dr. Abdulai Palmo Jalloh, Chief Agriculturist, led a joint PI-CREF and MAFS verification team to Kambia district. Their mission was twofold: witness firsthand the progress on local farms for #Feed Salone project, and present rice mills, threshers, de-stoners, and other inputs to farmers’ groups in Kambia town.

The mission which saw both teams visiting several locations in Kambia district was undertaken on behalf of Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) who had himself earlier in the week toured several districts to catch a first hand look at progress of the cultivation activities.

The team then proceeded to Samu Chiefdom, which is amongst the top five rice producing hubs of the country. They visited bolilands in Kambiadi, Dintilpan, Sorobolimia, and the mangroves in Kychom. At each of these locations, they discussed with stakeholders the effectiveness of service delivery, availability of seeds, and progress towards achieving the President’s Feed Salone targets for rice cultivation this year.

The Bio administration is committed to the “Feed Salone” initiative, demonstrating this through tangible practical actions. Agricultural machinery has been officially handed over to local farmers in several districts, a move aimed at boosting productivity and sustainability. The team also discussed climate change impacts on production systems, and the critical need for energy solutions.

Accompanying the team to Kambia was Alhaji Dr. Alpha Khan, the Presidential spokesman and senior MAFS officers from Kambia and Freetown. Madam Yatta Samai, the President of the Farmers Federation participated in the tour and strongly articulated the needs of farmers, and current challenges faced by the Feed Salone initiative.