By Sallieu S. Kanu
MAGBURAKA, Tonkolili District: Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, has commended Pee Cee & Sons for its significant investment in agriculture, describing the company’s contribution to the government’s flagship Feed Salone initiative as a major step toward strengthening domestic food production, reducing dependence on imports and advancing Sierra Leone’s food self-sufficiency agenda.
Speaking during the World Food Day celebration in Magburaka on Thursday, October 22, 2026, Dr. Kpaka praised President Julius Maada Bio’s leadership in encouraging private-sector participation in agriculture, noting that Pee Cee & Sons had demonstrated how commercial investment could support national development priorities and economic transformation.
This year’s celebration, held under the theme “Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow,” highlighted the need for innovation, sustainable farming practices and stronger collaboration among government, businesses and farmers to achieve food security.
According to the minister, the government’s engagement with the private sector is beginning to yield positive results, with more companies entering agricultural production. He singled out Pee Cee & Sons as a model of private-sector participation that other businesses could emulate.
Dr. Kpaka said increased investment by private companies has the potential to boost productivity, create jobs and expand the availability of locally produced food.
“Before now, food prices were high, but it is better now. Before now, onions were a problem when I took office as minister. We have reduced the importation of onions,” he said.
The minister further noted that Sierra Leone is witnessing improvements in food production and affordability, which he attributed to government interventions and increased private-sector involvement in agriculture.
“This is the first time in the history of Sierra Leone that food prices are going down,” Dr. Kpaka stated, adding that food imports had declined during the past three years while approximately 22,000 jobs were created in 2026 through the Feed Salone programme.
He said the figures reflect the government’s commitment to tackling food insecurity, expanding employment opportunities and improving livelihoods through sustained agricultural investment.
Pee Cee Agriculture Expands Local Food Production
Pee Cee & Sons, through its subsidiary Pee Cee Agriculture Limited, has expanded its operations beyond consumer goods, manufacturing and distribution into commercial agriculture.
The company’s investment aligns with the objectives of the Feed Salone programme, which seeks to strengthen domestic food production, reduce Sierra Leone’s reliance on imported food and improve resilience against external economic shocks.
The importance of local agricultural investment became more evident following the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed vulnerabilities associated with heavy dependence on imported food and disruptions in international supply chains.
Pee Cee Agriculture currently operates a commercial farm at Loko Masama in Lungi, where it cultivates onions, maize and potatoes. The farm reportedly cultivates about 70 hectares twice annually, representing approximately 140 hectare-cropping cycles each year, with plans to expand into a fully mechanised 500-hectare operation.
The company has also secured significant financial backing, including a reported US$12 million loan from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to support the development of its agricultural operations. The investment is expected to boost production capacity, improve efficiency and increase the availability of locally grown produce.
Pee Cee Agriculture’s long-term objective includes meeting a substantial portion of the country’s onion demand, a move that could reduce import dependency, save foreign exchange and improve the stability of local food supplies.
Beyond commercial farming, the company’s activities are expected to generate rural employment, increase opportunities for women in agriculture and support local farmers through partnerships and training initiatives.
The company has also reportedly collaborated with Njala University and the Ministry of Agriculture on research programmes and contract-farming training for smallholder farmers, helping to bridge large-scale investment with community-based agricultural development.
Supporting Feed Salone Objectives
Dr. Kpaka’s recognition of Pee Cee & Sons reflects the government’s broader effort to encourage businesses to view agriculture as a commercially viable sector capable of creating jobs, supporting local industries and driving economic growth.
For farmers, increased private-sector participation provides opportunities for market access, improved farming techniques, training and more predictable demand for produce. For consumers, stronger domestic production could help cushion the impact of international commodity price fluctuations and supply disruptions.
The World Food Day event also underscored the importance of complementing commercial agriculture with improved seeds, mechanisation, irrigation systems, agricultural research, post-harvest management and targeted support for smallholder farmers.
Observers say Pee Cee Agriculture’s expansion illustrates how strategic private-sector investment, backed by financing, technical expertise and collaboration with public institutions, can contribute meaningfully to national food-security goals.
Looking Ahead
The commendation places Pee Cee & Sons among the private-sector entities being recognised for helping advance the Feed Salone agenda.
Dr. Kpaka stressed that sustainable agricultural transformation would require continued collaboration among government, investors, farmers and communities.
The World Food Day celebration provided an opportunity to highlight progress made under Feed Salone while drawing attention to the need for further investment in production, rural infrastructure, storage facilities, processing capacity and market access.
As Sierra Leone continues its pursuit of food self-sufficiency, Pee Cee Agriculture’s operations are increasingly being viewed as an example of how commercial farming can complement smallholder agriculture, create jobs and contribute to national development objectives.
Through the Feed Salone initiative, the government aims to build a resilient agricultural sector capable of strengthening food supplies, reducing import dependence and protecting the country from external economic shocks. Dr. Kpaka’s commendation of Pee Cee & Sons serves as further recognition of the critical role private-sector investment can play in achieving that vision.