By Sallieu S. Kanu
NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2026: President Julius Maada Bio has announced that Sierra Leone will increase its contribution to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) 14th Replenishment by at least 50 percent, signaling the government’s commitment to strengthening food security, agricultural productivity, rural livelihoods and job creation.
The announcement was made on Friday during the IFAD14 African Leadership Moment at the Goals Lounge at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, where President Bio reaffirmed agriculture as a cornerstone of Sierra Leone’s national development agenda.
Addressing delegates, the President described agriculture as far more than an economic sector, emphasizing its critical role in sustaining livelihoods and ensuring national food security.
“Agriculture is more than a sector for Sierra Leone. It is the foundation of our food security, our livelihoods and our future,” he said.
President Bio stressed that rural communities remain central to the country’s development, noting that they are home to the majority of Sierra Leoneans and serve as the backbone of national food production.
“Rural areas are often called the last mile. In Sierra Leone, they are the first mile, where most of our people live and work, and where food security begins,” he stated.
The President highlighted Sierra Leone’s longstanding partnership with IFAD, which has spanned more than four decades, and pointed to increasing domestic investments in agriculture as evidence of the government’s determination to transform the sector.
He revealed that agriculture’s share of the national budget has risen from 2 percent to 8 percent within two years, while the country’s rice self-sufficiency rate has improved from 68 percent in 2019 to 73 percent.
Against this backdrop, President Bio formally committed Sierra Leone to increasing its contribution under the IFAD14 replenishment cycle by at least 50 percent compared to its IFAD13 contribution, with funding to be sourced from the national budget.
He said the move demonstrates the country’s resolve to invest in farmers, food producers and rural communities, whom he described as the foundation of sustainable agricultural transformation.
“If we want to transform food systems and create jobs, we must invest in the people who produce our food,” the President said.
President Bio also called on development partners and international stakeholders to match Sierra Leone’s commitment with increased support for agricultural development initiatives across Africa.
“Sierra Leone is doing its part. I invite every partner here to do the same,” he urged.
The President’s pledge underscores Sierra Leone’s broader strategy of placing agriculture and rural development at the center of national efforts to enhance food security, create employment opportunities and drive sustainable economic growth.
The commitment is expected to strengthen the country’s collaboration with IFAD while reinforcing support for farmers and rural communities that remain vital to feeding the nation and advancing agricultural transformation.