In a strategic effort to enhance Sierra Leone's agricultural sector, President Julius Maada Bio met with Dr. Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in Rome. The meeting aimed to discuss FAO's ongoing role in supporting Sierra Leone's food security and agricultural development agenda.
President Bio expressed appreciation for FAO's longstanding support in advancing the country's food systems and reiterated his administration's commitment to making agriculture the backbone of the economy. "FAO has played a significant role in supporting our food systems efforts, and your leadership in aligning global food security priorities with the needs of developing nations like ours is commendable," he stated.
A major focus was on FAO’s contribution to the Sustainable Agrifood System Intelligence (SASI) initiative. This initiative has developed an operational investment plan for Feed Salone’s Pillar 3, concentrating on aggregation, processing, and marketing. President Bio stressed the importance of directing investments into these areas to drive agricultural transformation.
Despite progress in expanding domestic food production, particularly rice, challenges such as post-harvest losses and limited access to improved seed varieties persist. President Bio called for enhanced interventions in these areas and sought strategic collaboration with FAO to address productivity gaps.
The President also emphasized Sierra Leone’s renewed commitment to the South-South Triangular Cooperation Program with China, Vietnam, and Japan. He encouraged FAO to facilitate cooperation that would enhance knowledge exchange, financing, and technological innovation.
Addressing climate change challenges was another key topic during the discussions. President Bio highlighted Sierra Leone’s vulnerability to climate-related disruptions and called for climate-responsive agricultural financing and modern technologies. "FAO’s global leadership in climate-smart agriculture is well recognized, and we want to leverage your expertise to support our efforts in this space," he added.
Furthermore, President Bio reiterated his administration's commitment to attracting private sector investment into agriculture through innovative financing models that reduce risks for smallholder farmers.
Dr. Qu Dongyu commended President Bio's vision for agricultural transformation in Sierra Leone and reaffirmed FAO's commitment to supporting Feed Salone. He emphasized facilitating strategic investments that would boost food security and economic growth.
The meeting concluded with both leaders expressing a shared vision for enhanced agricultural productivity, sustainable food systems, and stronger South-South cooperation as part of Sierra Leone’s journey toward agricultural transformation.
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