President Julius Maada Bio and First Lady Fatima Bio have joined officers and men of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) to officially kick-start the harvesting of rice cultivated on more than 4,000 acres of military farmland in Yoni Kamajei Chiefdom, Moyamba District.
The symbolic harvest marks a major milestone in the military’s contribution to the government’s flagship Feed Salone Agenda, aimed at strengthening food security and boosting domestic food production.
The vast rice farm, established under the leadership of Chief of Defence Staff Lieutenant General Amara Bangura, stands as a testament to the military’s growing role in national development beyond its traditional responsibility of defending the country’s territorial integrity.
President Bio, who is also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, described the achievement as a proud moment, commending the military for its discipline, hard work and commitment to supporting the country’s food security drive.
He noted that the initiative demonstrates how collective responsibility can contribute to national development, stressing that efforts to feed Sierra Leone require the participation of all sectors of society.
The President and the First Lady expressed pride in the military’s achievement, reaffirming their commitment to supporting farmers across the country as they work to increase food production and ensure that Sierra Leoneans have access to locally produced food.
The military’s large-scale rice cultivation highlights the evolving contribution of the RSLAF to the country’s socio-economic transformation, while reinforcing the importance of agricultural production in achieving food sovereignty.
The harvest also underscores the principle that food security is not solely the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture, but a collective national duty requiring the involvement of institutions, communities and individuals.
Through the Feed Salone Agenda, the government continues to promote local food production as a key component of national development, with the military’s rice farming initiative serving as an example of institutional support for the programme.
The commencement of the harvest in Moyamba District signals a further step in the country’s drive towards greater food self-sufficiency, with the RSLAF contributing its resources and manpower to the national effort to feed Sierra Leone.
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