Zachariah Jalloh, Ministry of Information and Civic Education
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Henry Musa Kpaka, has lauded Port Loko district for its significant contribution to the national supply of onions, which has led to a marked reduction in onion prices across the country.
Speaking at the Civic Day Series Town Hall organized by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education in Port Loko, Dr.Kpaka emphasized that the district’s success story is a clear example of how the Feed Salone Initiative is promoting food self-sufficiency and reducing Sierra Leone’s dependence on food imports.
“For far too long, Sierra Leone has heavily relied on imported food to feed its people, with serious implications for the exchange rate,” the Minister said. “The Feed Salone Initiative is changing this by encouraging local agricultural production, creating jobs, and ensuring food security.”
Dr Kpaka commended PC and Sons, a private-sector player, for its outstanding investment in onion farming in Port Loko. He explained that with government support, the company has expanded cultivation from just 5 hectares to over 150 hectares. “There was a time we faced an onion crisis, but through the swift intervention of the government and PC and Sons, the market is now flooded with affordable, locally grown onions,” he remarked.
To promote local pride and identity, Dr Kpaka revealed that the Ministry had requested PC and Sons to brand the onion bags with the inscription “Lungi Yabas,” a suggestion the company has agreed to implement.
Addressing the critical issue of machinery maintenance, Dr.Kpaka pointed out that poor repair and servicing of tractors have long been a bottleneck in the agricultural sector. However, he revealed a promising development: a machine operator in Port Loko is currently training over 200 youths in tractor repair and maintenance. “This initiative, which we plan to replicate nationwide, will ensure sustainable management of agricultural machinery and reduce reliance on foreign technicians,” he said.
Turning to rice cultivation, the Minister disclosed that over 200,000 hectares of rice have been cultivated in Port Loko, with an irrigation system covering an additional 900,000 hectares currently under development in Mabureh and Makonteh Chiefdoms.
Contributing to the discussion, the Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Haja Isata Abdulai Kamara, underscored the essential role of fish in achieving the objectives of the Feed Salone Initiative. She highlighted ongoing efforts to expand aquaculture across the country, enabling families to practice fish farming even at home. “This approach not only supports food security but also adds nutritional value to household diets,” she emphasized.
