Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, has called on international investors to support a $760 million agrifood investment plan aimed at increasing agricultural production, strengthening food security and creating opportunities for agro-processing.
Dr. Kpaka presented the investment plan at the Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Italy, where he highlighted Sierra Leone’s agricultural potential and urged investors to support the government’s Feed Salone initiative.
Developed in collaboration with the FAO under its Hand-in-Hand Initiative, the plan focuses on four value chains: rice, poultry, cassava and oil palm.
The Minister said Sierra Leone has approximately 5.4 million hectares of arable land, of which only 15 per cent is currently cultivated. He also highlighted the country’s reliable rainfall, young workforce and political commitment to improving domestic food production as factors that could attract investment into the agricultural sector.
The $760 million plan is designed to strengthen domestic production and expand opportunities for value addition. Two of the targeted value chains focus on import substitution, serving existing markets at home and across the region.
The other two offer export opportunities through the processing of cassava into starch and flour, and the local refining of oil palm products to increase value addition.
Addressing prospective investors, Dr. Kpaka said Sierra Leone had the agricultural resources and political commitment needed to develop the sector but required investment partners to help realise its potential.
“We have arable land, a young workforce, and strong political commitment. What we need now are people who believe in us and want to invest in the Feed Salone initiative,” he said.
The Minister concluded his appeal by urging investors to consider Sierra Leone as an investment destination, saying, “Come and invest in Sierra Leone!”
The investment plan is intended to support the government’s efforts to increase agricultural productivity, reduce dependence on imported food, improve food security and promote local agro-processing.
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