The Sierra Leone Chamber for Agribusiness Development (SLeCAD) successfully convened a high-level Agribusiness Private Sector Meeting focused on the World Bank-supported Sustainable Agricultural Value Chains Intensification for Growth (SAVIG) Project. The engagement brought together key stakeholders from across the agricultural sector, including farmers, agribusiness operators, private sector actors, and institutional representatives.
The primary objective of the meeting was to enhance awareness and understanding of the SAVIG Project, particularly its structure, focus areas, eligibility criteria, and the opportunities it presents for agribusiness growth and investment in Sierra Leone.
The SAVIG Project is designed to strengthen agricultural productivity and competitiveness by focusing on key value chains, including cocoa, maize, rice, and horticulture. The initiative adopts a private sector-driven approach, ensuring that interventions are aligned with market realities while promoting sustainability and long-term impact.
A central component of the project is the strengthening of agricultural input systems. Stakeholders emphasized that beyond availability, the quality of inputs such as seeds and fertilizers remains a critical issue affecting productivity. The project therefore works through relevant institutions to improve input standards, ensure proper regulation, and enhance accessibility for farmers and agribusiness operators.
In addition to input systems, the project places strong emphasis on capacity building. Beneficiaries will be supported with training in climate-smart agriculture, standardization, and agribusiness management, enabling them to improve productivity, meet market requirements, and access both grants and financing opportunities.
Participants were also informed that the project targets three key categories of beneficiaries: processors, aggregators, and farmer organizations or cooperatives. The selection process will be conducted through independent and specialized private sector entities to ensure transparency, fairness, and accountability.
SLeCAD’s role within this framework remains strategic, leveraging its national network of agribusiness actors to facilitate coordination, support stakeholder engagement, and contribute to effective monitoring of the implementation process.
During the engagement, participants raised important concerns regarding inclusivity, transparency in beneficiary selection, and the need to ensure that genuine agribusiness actors, particularly active farmers and women, are prioritized. There were also calls for strengthening agro-dealer networks and improving access to extension services to support farmers at the local level.
Additionally, a cross-cutting issue related to land access and the presence of underutilized agricultural lands was briefly highlighted, reinforcing the need for improved coordination in land use planning to support agribusiness expansion.
The engagement reaffirmed the importance of collaboration between government, private sector, and development partners in driving agricultural transformation in Sierra Leone.
SLeCAD remains committed to supporting its members and the broader agribusiness community by providing timely information, facilitating access to opportunities, and advocating for an enabling environment that promotes sustainable growth and investment.
Agribusiness actors, farmers, and investors are encouraged to stay engaged with SLeCAD and position themselves to benefit from ongoing and upcoming opportunities under the SAVIG Project.
Stay connected with SLeCAD for more updates.
