By Mohamed Kamara
Freetown, Sierra Leone — The Chief Agricultural Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Abdulai Jalloh, has identified poor seed quality as a critical factor contributing to Sierra Leone’s historically low rice yields. With an average yield of just 1.36 tons per hectare, the nation continues to struggle in its quest for agricultural self-sufficiency.
Speaking at a recent agricultural forum, Mr. Jalloh highlighted several issues plaguing rice production, including limited fertilizer use and outdated management practices. “Currently, Sierra Leone produces approximately 600,000 metric tons of rice annually, yet we still import around 400,000 metric tons, costing the country about $200 million,” Jalloh stated.
He further emphasized the Ministry’s strategy to transform subsistence farmers into commercial producers. “We aim to shift smallholder farmers, who typically cultivate less than one hectare, to managing larger plots of 5-10 hectares each. This initiative has already seen the number of farmers increase from 350,000 in previous years to around 100,000, boosting overall productivity,” he added.
However, concerns have been raised within the Ministry regarding the effectiveness of the Seed Multiplication Programme, a key component of the agricultural reform agenda. An anonymous Agro-Economist within the Ministry has pointed fingers at the program, which has received substantial donor funding from Germany and the government, amounting to millions of U.S. dollars.
“The Seed Multiplication Programme has not lived up to expectations, largely due to financial mismanagement and deviations from its intended purpose,” the Agro-Economist disclosed. He noted that since the appointment of the program’s Coordinator, Mr. Edward Smith Gbapi, in 2014 by then-Minister Dr. Joseph Sam Sesay, the project has faced numerous challenges.
Gbapi’s tenure has been marred by controversy, including a stalled investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Despite allegations of financial impropriety, no significant actions have been taken. “There were vehicles misused, unauthorized staff appointments, and millions of Leones owed to Chief Farmers. The Tamabom project was also stagnated due to unsuitable rice seeds imported from Indonesia,” the source revealed.
Moreover, billions of Leones were reportedly lost when rice stored at Murray Town was sold without proper accountability. With Gbapi set to retire in October, concerns linger about the program’s future. “From the APC to the SLPP, there seems to be a deeply entrenched caucus within the Ministry. If not dismantled, there are fears that the ‘Feed Salone’ initiative may face a similar fate,” the Agro-Economist warned.
As Sierra Leone continues to grapple with these agricultural challenges, the call for transparency and accountability within the Ministry of Agriculture grows louder. The nation’s ability to achieve food security remains uncertain, with the success of future initiatives hanging in the balance.
