Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio Celebrates Agricultural Success One Year After Feed Salone Launch

Freetown, Sierra Leone – President Julius Maada Bio recently marked the one-year anniversary of Sierra Leone’s Feed Salone initiative, highlighting the program’s positive impact on local agriculture. In a tweet posted on October 20, 2024, President Bio shared that the country has recorded significant increases in local rice harvests since the initiative’s launch.

The President expressed particular satisfaction with the commencement of the harvest at a community farm in Tiihun, which showcased the progress made under the initiative. “Our local rice variety is fresh and nutritious,” he stated, underscoring his administration’s commitment to enhancing the agricultural sector.

One year after the launch of Feed Salone, we recorded significant increases in local rice harvests.

It was particularly fulfilling to commence harvest at our community farm in Tiihun.

Our local rice variety is fresh and nutritious, and we are committed to improving our… pic.twitter.com/AHyg7iCiMp

— President Julius Maada Bio (@PresidentBio) October 20, 2024

Feed Salone, launched in October 2023, was designed to boost Sierra Leone’s agricultural productivity by supporting local farmers, improving crop yields, and reducing the country’s reliance on imported food. The initiative includes the provision of quality seeds, modern farming tools, and technical assistance to farmers across the nation.

The increase in rice production has been a major achievement, considering the staple food’s central role in Sierra Leonean diets. With rice imports previously making up a significant portion of the country’s food consumption, the local production surge represents an important step toward food self-sufficiency.

President Bio’s visit to the Tiihun community farm marked the beginning of the season’s harvest, symbolizing the progress made in scaling up local food production. The farm serves as an example of the Feed Salone program’s efforts to cultivate resilience in rural communities by equipping farmers with the resources and knowledge needed to increase agricultural output.

Agricultural experts in the country have lauded the initiative, citing the benefits not only in terms of food security but also in creating job opportunities and improving livelihoods for rural communities. The government plans to further expand the program by incorporating other crops and modern farming practices to sustain the growth in the agricultural sector.

As Sierra Leone continues to implement Feed Salone, the administration’s focus remains on empowering local farmers and achieving sustainable agricultural development. The President reiterated his commitment to these goals, affirming that the progress seen over the past year is just the beginning of a long-term strategy to transform the nation’s agriculture.

Feed Salone’s success in boosting local rice production reflects a broader vision for a self-reliant Sierra Leone, where agriculture plays a pivotal role in driving economic growth and ensuring food security for all citizens.

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