By Sallieu S. Kanu
PORT LOKO, SIERRA LEONE – The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, has commended Port Loko District for its remarkable contribution to Sierra Leone’s onion supply, which has led to a significant drop in onion prices nationwide.
Speaking at the Civic Day Series Town Hall, organized by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education in Port Loko, Dr. Kpaka hailed the district as a success story in the ongoing Feed Salone Initiative, which aims to strengthen local agricultural production and reduce reliance on food imports.
“For far too long, Sierra Leone has heavily relied on imported food, with serious implications for the exchange rate,” Dr. Kpaka stated. “The Feed Salone Initiative is changing this by encouraging local production, creating jobs, and ensuring food security.”
Private-Sector Investment and Expansion
Dr. Kpaka specifically praised PC and Sons, a private-sector firm, for its investment in onion farming in Port Loko. He noted that government support has enabled the company to expand cultivation from 5 hectares to over 150 hectares, a move that has stabilized the onion market.
“There was a time we faced an onion crisis, but through swift intervention by the government and PC and Sons, the market is now flooded with affordable, locally grown onions,” he remarked.
To reinforce local pride and identity, Dr. Kpaka disclosed that the Ministry has asked PC and Sons to brand their onion bags with the inscription “Lungi Yabas”, a proposal the company has agreed to implement.
Strengthening Agricultural Machinery Maintenance
Addressing agricultural machinery maintenance, Dr. Kpaka highlighted poor servicing of tractors as a persistent challenge in the sector. However, he revealed that a machine operator in Port Loko is training over 200 youths in tractor repair and maintenance, an initiative the government hopes to replicate nationwide.
“This effort will ensure sustainable management of agricultural machinery and reduce reliance on foreign technicians,” he said.
Rice and Fisheries Expansion
Turning to rice cultivation, the Minister announced that over 200,000 hectares of rice have been cultivated in Port Loko, alongside an ongoing irrigation project covering 900,000 hectares in Mabureh and Makonteh Chiefdoms.
Adding to the discussion, Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Haja Isata Abdulai Kamara, emphasized the role of fish farming in the Feed Salone Initiative. She noted that expanding aquaculture nationwide would allow families to practice fish farming even at home, enhancing both food security and nutrition.
“This approach not only supports food security but also adds nutritional value to household diets,” she stated.
Looking Ahead
As agricultural reforms continue to take shape, Port Loko’s achievements in onion production, rice cultivation, and machine maintenance training showcase the potential of local investment and innovation in strengthening Sierra Leone’s food security.