Empowering Agricultural Transformation: Three-Day Capacity Building Training on GAP and 6 Steps in Weed Management

In a bid to bolster food security and enhance agricultural productivity, Sierra Leone has taken significant steps towards becoming a self-sufficient nation. Central to this effort is the Feed Salone initiative, which encourages the nation according to the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture said that: "We should eat what we grow and grow what we eat." The initiative gained momentum with a landmark agreement on December 18, 2023, when Dr. Simeon Ehui, IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sierra Leone’s Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka. This MoU underscored a shared commitment to the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), aimed at revolutionizing food systems, boosting smallholder farmers' productivity, and enhancing the agricultural value chain. IITA’s strategic technical role in this partnership lays a robust foundation for scaling technologies in alignment with the Feed Salone campaign and the ATA

From June 26th to 28th, 2024, a significant milestone was reached in Sierra Leone's journey toward agricultural self-sufficiency with the successful completion of a three-day capacity-building training program at the BO Inn Hotel in Bo City. This initiative, a collaborative effort between the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security - Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP), and the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI), marked a crucial step in the implementation of the Feed Salone strategy.

The recently concluded training program, launched by Dr. Theresa T. Dick, Deputy Minister 1 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, brought together over 130 Ministry Extension Officers/Agents and private sector cassava producers from across Sierra Leone. The primary focus was on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and the Six Steps to Cassava Weed Management, essential components of the Feed Salone strategy. The training equipped these participants with advanced knowledge, skills, and technologies to enhance their service provision to farmers, ultimately improving productivity and promoting food security in Sierra Leone.

IITA leveraged its expertise in weed management practices by bringing in specialists from Nigeria to ensure the training's success. The opening day featured statements from various dignitaries, including Dr. Theresa T. Dick, Dr. Alfred O. Dixon (Country Director of IITA in Sierra Leone), Mr. Moses Senesie (Food Systems Resilience Programme), Dr. Robert Chakandas (Executive Director of Sierra Leone Seed Certification Agency), and Professor Friday Ekeleme, a renowned expert in agricultural practices. Dr. Abdul R. Conteh, the Acting Director General of SLARI, chaired the opening ceremony. He highlighted the significance of the training in enhancing the capabilities of frontline extension officers and agents, who play a critical role in the successful implementation of the Feed Salone initiative.

The training encompassed both theoretical and practical sessions. The first two days were dedicated to intensive classroom learning, where participants were introduced to advanced agricultural practices and effective weed management techniques. On the final day, the trainees participated in a field exercise, interacting with Professor Ekeleme and learning how to use various tools and machines recommended for cassava cultivation

The program culminated in a self-assessment exercise by the trainees, who are now poised to replicate and disseminate the knowledge and skills acquired during the training. Dr. Frederick Kobba, Senior Extension Officer at SLARI, was appointed as the contact person to coordinate ongoing training efforts for farmers nationwide. A reporting template and attendance list were drafted and approved, ensuring a structured approach to monitoring and evaluating the impact of these training activities.

The Feed Salone initiative, through such collaborative training programs, is making significant strides toward transforming Sierra Leone's agricultural landscape. By empowering extension officers and cassava producers with essential knowledge and tools, Sierra Leone is steadily advancing towards its goal of becoming a food-sufficient nation, where the people can eat what they grow and grow what they eat. The collaborative efforts of IITA, the Ministry of Agriculture, and SLARI are expected to yield significant improvements in agricultural practices, ultimately enabling Sierra Leone to achieve its goal of food sufficiency through the Feed Salone initiative.