GoSL and Partners Validate SASI Implementation Plan for Feed Salone Pillar 3.

The Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and with support from the European Union (EU), concluded a one-day validation workshop on Sustainable Agrifood Systems Intelligence (SASI). The workshop focused on the implementation plan for the operationalization of Feed Salone’s Pillar 3: Aggregation, Processing, and Market Linkages. Held on Monday, 30th September 2024, at the Family Kingdom, this joint effort aims to strengthen Sierra Leone’s agrifood systems.

In her keynote address, Dr. Theresa Tenneh Dick, Deputy Minister 1 of Agriculture and Food Security, speaking on behalf of the Minister, emphasized that the systemic approach provides a framework to prioritize multiple agrifood systems issues and goals such as nutrition, food security, health, livelihoods, and sustainable resource management.

“Agrifood systems are not solely about agriculture; they also require critical support and coordination of sectoral inputs in energy, transport, commerce, and health,” Dr. Dick stated.

She reiterated that the Feed Salone program will align with this agenda, focusing on key components like rice self-sufficiency, livestock development to improve nutrition, crop diversification, and sustainable forest and biodiversity management.

Dr. Dick also revealed that Pillar 3 offers significant opportunities for private sector collaboration and #investment in the agricultural sector. The strategic document aims to stimulate large-scale investors’ interest in mechanized, commercial-grade agriculture across value chains, especially rice, while fostering collaboration between large-scale investors and medium- and smallholder farmers.

She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to the process and expressed gratitude to the EU, FAO, and other development partners for their strategic partnership in transforming agrifood systems sustainably.

Manty Tarawalie, Minister of State and Food Systems Pathways Convenor from the Office of the Vice President, described food systems as interconnected and requiring a multi-sectoral approach to succeed.

“Food systems are complex entities that affect diets, human health, economic growth, natural resources, environmental resilience, and sociocultural factors. Therefore, we need a collective effort to ensure food systems are achieved,” said Madam Tarawalie.

She further noted that food systems are increasingly vulnerable to climate and environmental changes, as well as economic shocks that threaten their sustainability. In Sierra Leone, the global economic crisis—exacerbated by wars, the pandemic, and ongoing climate change—has left 18% of Sierra Leonean households severely food insecure, though this marks an improvement from the previous assessment.

Patrick Kormawa, Director of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security, highlighted the role of PI-CREC in achieving Sierra Leone’s food system goals. He emphasized PI-CREC’s coordination efforts in mobilizing resources and working closely with relevant ministries to deliver President Bio’s vision of a food-secure and economically stable Sierra Leone.