On November 7, 2024, President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone toured agricultural sites in Ethiopia with Ethiopian Minister of Agriculture Dr. Girm Amente. The visits were part of the World Without Hunger Conference and showcased Ethiopia's advancements in agro-industrialization and sustainable farming.
During a visit to an avocado farm, farmer Elias Oromia explained how Ethiopia's natural resources have supported the growth of irrigated agriculture and livestock farming. "We started in 2021 with 500,000 seedlings, and we have now expanded to 13.8 million seedlings," Oromia said. The farm exports over 1,000 tonnes of avocados annually and provides jobs for local farmers.
President Bio praised Ethiopia’s agricultural partnerships between the government and private sector as a potential model for Sierra Leone. “What Ethiopia has accomplished is worthy of emulation,” he stated. “It demonstrates that while leaders can set the stage, citizens can take bold initiatives to drive agricultural transformation.”
He emphasized Sierra Leone’s commitment to adopting successful global agricultural practices to achieve food security. The visit highlighted how collaboration in agriculture can create jobs, boost food production, and stimulate economic growth—key themes at the World Without Hunger Conference.
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