Iowa, United States, Monday, October 28, 2024 – Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio visited Demoss Farm in Iowa, where he participated in the corn harvest. The farm is owned by Steven Kuiper, Director of the 8th Crop Reporting District.
Steven Kuiper welcomed President Bio and shared his farming history, which began in 1987. Kuiper owns 3,000 acres dedicated to corn and soybeans. He explained their annual harvest cycle and discussed farming techniques from planting to harvesting.
President Bio emphasized his visit aimed to explore partnerships for the Feed Salone program. He highlighted mechanization's role in boosting agricultural productivity, as seen at Demoss Farm. "I am encouraging all Sierra Leoneans, particularly those with financial resources, to consider engaging in agriculture," stated President Bio.
The President also visited a John Deere dealership in Knoxville, Iowa, inspecting equipment like tractors and sprayers.
President Bio is attending the World Food Prize Foundation’s Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue as a Special Guest of Honor. He will engage with U.S. Department of Agriculture officials and co-chair a roundtable with the African Development Bank Group's President before presenting the 2024 World Food Prize.
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