He highlighted some of the difficulties they faced and called on government to address issues around land acquisition process, high cost of annual environmental licenses, lack of access to markets, poor access to finance and commercial agri-businesses.
Patrick Blake, the Chief Executive Officer of Dole Foods SL, told the President that their association had employed over 12,000 Sierra Leoneans, adding that the association would employ more people if the government created the enabling environment for businesses to flourish.
Responding, President Bio thanked the team from CAPPA and praised their initiative in pushing and improving the agricultural sector, particularly in exporting products from Sierra Leone. He said his government was fully committed to supporting the activities of CAPPA and help them succeed by creating the conducive environment, adding that that would allow for local products to be exported, increased foreign exchange earnings and eventually helped to cushion the high inflation rate.
President Bio also said that his government would look into the concerns of the association and find ways to clear them, which would be good for CAPPA and the country.