SLARI Annual Work Program Conference Concludes with Strategic Focus on Feed Salone Agenda for 2025

The Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI) recently concluded its two-day Annual Work Program Conference at the Atlantic Lumley Hotel, Freetown, under the theme "Innovation Agricultural Technologies to Support Feed Salone." The conference brought together key agricultural stakeholders to review SLARI’s research and development activities in 2024 and chart the way forward for 2025 in alignment with the Government of Sierra Leone's Feed Salone initiative. The activity was funded by the FSRP/IITA technical support project to SLARI. Agriculture remains a critical priority for the government as part of its Big Five development agenda, with a strong focus on achieving sustainable livelihoods, food security, and mass employment through advancements in the agricultural sector.

SLARI has long played a pivotal role in developing innovative technologies, inputs, and production techniques that drive agricultural productivity. As in previous years, the Annual Work Program Conference provided an important platform for SLARI and its stakeholders to reflect on its accomplishments over the past year and evaluate research proposals for the upcoming year. This year's conference aimed to align SLARI’s research activities with the Feed Salone initiative, which seeks to make Sierra Leone a food-sufficient nation.

The conference opened with a warm welcome from Dr. Abdul R. Conteh, the Acting Director General of SLARI, who expressed his gratitude for the support from IITA and FSRP. The opening ceremony of the conference was chaired by Mr. Rashid Conteh, CEO of Bo Garri, setting the tone for discussions around the critical role of agricultural research in national development. Key stakeholders, including representatives from academia, government, and international organizations, delivered remarks that emphasized the importance of collaboration and innovation to achieve the goals of the Feed Salone strategy.

Prof. Alieu Mohamed Bah, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Njala University, underscored the need for stronger partnerships between SLARI and Sierra Leone's universities to ensure that farmers have access to improved seeds and farming techniques. He emphasized that collaboration between research institutions is vital for the success of the Feed Salone initiative.

Dr. Alfred O. Dixon, representing the CGIAR, stressed the importance of revamping SLARI to focus on developing seed systems and scaling up agricultural technologies. He called for a renewed commitment to the Feed Salone initiative and urged stakeholders to work together to advance agricultural research and innovation in the country.

Mr. Dennis Philip Yaw Yankson, representing the Chief Agriculture Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, highlighted the ministry's role in implementing policies that support the Feed Salone initiative. He noted that mechanizing agriculture, improving access to finance, and empowering women and youth in agriculture are essential components of the government’s strategy to make Sierra Leone self-sufficient in food production. He also mentioned that climate-smart technologies would play a key role in achieving these goals.

Deputy Minister II of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Sahr Hemore, spoke on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture and emphasized the need for SLARI to collaborate with development partners to produce foundation and breeder seeds. He pointed out that rice importation had been reduced by 20%, demonstrating progress toward achieving food security. He also reaffirmed the ministry’s support for SLARI’s efforts and urged the institute to continue its contributions to the Feed Salone agenda.

The conference provided an opportunity for SLARI to review and document its successes and lessons learned over the past year. Some of the key outcomes of the conference included:

1. A comprehensive review of SLARI’s research and development activities from January to December 2024.
2. Documentation of the successes and lessons gained over the past year.
3. Identification of challenges faced by SLARI in implementing its research and development programs.
4. Presentation of research proposals for 2025, organized by thematic areas across SLARI’s various research centres.
5. Identification of research proposals with the greatest potential to contribute to the Feed Salone agenda.

The conference participants included representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), Sierra Leone Seed Certification Agency (SLeSCA), National Federation of Farmers Sierra Leone (NaFFSL), National Fertilizer Regulatory Agency (NaFRA), SLARI research centres, and various development organizations such as RRVCP, RAIC, SLARiS, AVDP, SCADeP, and SOLIDARIDAD, Njala University, private sector agribusinesses, seed companies, and agro-input dealers also attended, reinforcing the collaborative nature of agricultural development in Sierra Leone.

As SLARI moves forward with its research and development agenda for 2025, the institute remains committed to supporting the Feed Salone initiative by developing and scaling up innovative technologies that will enhance agricultural productivity and contribute to the country’s food security goals.

The conference concluded with a renewed sense of purpose, with stakeholders pledging their commitment to overcoming challenges and working together to achieve a food-secure Sierra Leone.