Agriculture remains the backbone of Sierra Leone’s economy, contributing significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and serving as the primary source of livelihood for the majority of its population. However, despite the sector’s immense potential, it continues to face numerous challenges that constrain growth, limit productivity, and threaten national food security. To address these challenges and strengthen its agricultural sector, Sierra Leone is seeking to deepen collaboration with IITA.
On 11 May, IITA–CGIAR welcomed a high-level delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), Sierra Leone, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI). The delegation included the Chairperson of the SLARI Council, Dr Alfred Dixon; the Resident Representative of UNDP, Fredrick Ampiah; the Deputy Chief Agricultural Officer of MAFS, Aiah Tholley; and other distinguished representatives.
The visit highlights the need for a deeper partnership among IITA, UNDP, and SLARI to advance agricultural transformation, technology transfer, and capacity strengthening within Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector.
Welcoming the delegation, IITA Deputy Director General, Partnerships for Delivery, Tahirou Abdoulaye, emphasized the significance of the collaboration between IITA and SLARI. He noted that both institutions share a common vision of strengthening agriculture and improving food systems across Africa.
Abdoulaye introduced the delegation to IITA’s value proposition in accelerating agricultural transformation through research, innovation, and delivery. In his presentation, he highlighted the institute’s work across its mandate crops, including banana and plantain, cassava, cowpea, maize, soybean, and yam. He also showcased IITA’s contributions in genetic innovation, resilient agrifood systems, seed transformation, and the development of more than 487 improved crop varieties adapted to diverse agroecological conditions and market demands.
Speaking during the visit, Dr Dixon described the engagement as an important milestone in deepening collaboration among the institutions. He expressed satisfaction with IITA’s proposal to formalize the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The Director of the IITA West Africa Hub, Michael Abberton, noted that the visit would allow the delegation to experience first-hand the practical application of IITA’s technologies and innovations beyond what was presented during the institutional briefing.
As part of the visit, the delegation toured key IITA facilities and observed several agricultural transformation initiatives underway at the institute. These included innovations in cassava production, improved crop varieties, and the use of Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) technology for the large-scale multiplication of cassava and yam planting materials.
Ampiah commended IITA’s contributions to food and nutrition security, particularly its support for agricultural development initiatives that benefit young people and women in Sierra Leone. He further emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration between development partners and research institutions in driving sustainable agricultural growth.
Representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security also highlighted the need to strengthen collaboration with IITA through capacity-building programs, support for SLARI, and technology-transfer initiatives to improve agricultural productivity and enhance farmers’ livelihoods in Sierra Leone.
The visit concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNDP and IITA, witnessed by representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Sierra Leone. The agreement reaffirmed the commitment of all parties to deepen collaboration in agricultural research, innovation, and development for sustainable agricultural transformation.
Contributed by Christabel Ediri and Ochuwa Favour Daramola
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