Sierra Leone Takes Steps Towards Rice Sufficiency with Launch of SLeRO

On the path to achieving rice sufficiency, Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Sahr Hemore, launched the ECOWAS Rice Observatory (ERO) National Chapter of Sierra Leone, known as the Sierra Leone Rice Observatory (SLeRO), yesterday.

The launch, held at the Sierra Palm Hotel in Freetown, was attended by key stakeholders in the agricultural sector, making Sierra Leone the fourth nation to establish its chapter.

Abdulai Bun Wai, serving as Chairman of the launch, revealed that this initiative began in 2019 with the goal of ensuring that West African nations become rice-sufficient as swiftly as possible.

Mr. Wai emphasized that over 800 million people in Africa depend on rice, with two-thirds of that figure residing in West Africa. Hence, it is imperative for the region to feed itself. He pointed out that, currently, the continent relies heavily on rice imports from Asia and other regions, which is a significant limitation.

“This limitation is a wake-up call, as we possess all the necessary resources to achieve rice sufficiency,” he declared.

Representing the Country Director of GIZ, Florian Winckler highlighted that achieving rice sufficiency would not only address food security but also reduce the country’s dependence on rice imports. He called for effective collaboration at the national and ECOWAS levels to accomplish this goal.

In his statement, the Acting Chief Agricultural Officer, Aiah J. Tholie, recognized that Sierra Leone spends millions of dollars annually on rice imports. He stressed that it is crucial for all stakeholders to work together to reduce these imports, as the country stands at a pivotal moment in terms of rice production.

In a virtual statement, Dr. Boladale Adebowale underscored that the journey leading up to the launch was inclusive and involved all rice stakeholders. She expressed concern about the 2020 rice importation figures, which reflected poorly on the capabilities of African countries to produce rice. Dr. Adebowale believes that ECOWAS is well-positioned to facilitate its member states in achieving rice sufficiency.

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture stated, “As a demonstration of our state of preparedness to advance the SLeRO endeavor, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security already has a national rice policy and strategy, and we have, under the FEED SALONE initiative, launched new efforts to operationalize these instruments.”

He went on to announce the establishment of a secretariat for SLeRO within the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, which will coordinate all public and private investments in rice farming. The mandate to establish and operate this rice secretariat has been incorporated into the portfolio of the Sierra Leone Regional Rice Value Chain Project (RRVCP).

“As we inaugurate this crucial platform today, I want to assure our partners from GIZ/MOVE of a seamless transition from these modest beginnings to a more robust and diversified but harmonized stakeholder platform,” he concluded.