AYV News, July 31, 2025
The Kono District Council and a youth-led farming initiative have officially handed over 650 bags of locally produced rice to the World Food Programme (WFP) in support of the National School Feeding Programme.
The handover ceremony took place just five months after a Le 1.7 billion contract was signed under the FEED SALONE initiative. The contract supports efforts to increase local food supply for schools across the country.
The rice delivered is 100% organic. It was cultivated, processed, and packaged entirely in Kono District by young people under the age of 30. The effort has involved more than 250 individuals in farming, milling, and packaging operations.
According to those involved, the project aims to boost youth employment and increase food production in a district long known mainly for diamond mining. The growing focus on agriculture is part of a broader effort to create new opportunities outside of mining.
The initiative has received technical and institutional support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. The Food Systems Resilience Project (FSRP – SL) also provided assistance during the cultivation phase.
The Kono District Council, led by Chairman Augustine SahrSheku, played a role in facilitating the handover and supporting the young farmers throughout the process.
This delivery is part of ongoing efforts linked to the FEED SALONE programme, which aims to increase national food self-sufficiency through private sector and community partnerships. Youth-led production, especially in rural areas, is a growing part of this strategy.
The organisers say they plan to expand the project further and are calling for more involvement from young people and the private sector in similar agricultural ventures.
