The Sierra Leone Chamber for Agribusiness Development (SLeCAD) on Tuesday, 26th May 2026, hosted a high-level Agribusiness Private Sector Engagement Meeting with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security at the SLeCAD Conference Hall,Beach Road, Lumley, Freetown.
The strategic engagement brought together Government representatives, farmers, agribusiness entrepreneurs, financial institutions, cooperatives, development partners, investors, and private sector stakeholders to discuss practical solutions aimed at strengthening food production, improving agricultural financing, promoting agro-industrialization, and expanding private sector participation within Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector.
The engagement formed part of SLeCAD’s broader mission to support the Government’s Feed Salone initiative while promoting sustainable agricultural transformation and investment opportunities across Sierra Leone.
Speaking during the forum, the Executive Secretary of SLeCAD, Mr. Ahmed Nanoh, emphasized the critical role of the private sector in transforming agriculture into a commercially driven sector capable of creating employment opportunities, increasing food production, and supporting national economic growth.
According to Mr. Nanoh, SLeCAD was established to promote private sector participation in agriculture while connecting local agribusinesses with investors, development partners, buyers, and international market opportunities.
He disclosed that since 2008, the Chamber has worked with farmers, Government institutions, financial institutions, and development organizations to strengthen agricultural value chains and support agribusiness development despite operating under limited resources.
Mr. Nanoh further stressed the need for Sierra Leone to move beyond subsistence farming and position itself as a competitive agribusiness destination capable of attracting local and international investment.
He highlighted successful agricultural models in countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya where agribusiness companies support farmers through financing arrangements, contract farming systems, and guaranteed markets for agricultural produce.
The Deputy Minister II of Agriculture and Food Security reaffirmed Government’s commitment to working closely with the private sector in achieving the objectives of the Feed Salone initiative.
He emphasized that Government alone cannot achieve national food security goals without strong collaboration from private sector institutions, financial partners, development organizations, and agribusiness stakeholders.
The Deputy Minister disclosed that the Ministry is currently working with banks, insurance companies, and development institutions to improve agricultural financing and insurance protection for farmers against climate-related losses and production risks.
He encouraged Sierra Leoneans, particularly young people, to embrace agriculture as a business opportunity capable of driving economic empowerment and reducing dependence on imported food commodities.
The engagement also addressed several challenges affecting agricultural productivity and agribusiness growth in Sierra Leone including limited access to finance, poor road infrastructure, inadequate processing facilities, limited mechanization, storage challenges, climate-related farming risks, and weak market access opportunities.
Stakeholders emphasized the need for increased investment in agro-processing, commercialization, packaging, mechanization, storage facilities, transportation infrastructure, and export readiness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The meeting concluded with renewed commitments from Government officials, private sector stakeholders, development partners, and agribusiness actors to strengthen collaboration toward improving food security, supporting local farmers, increasing agricultural productivity, and advancing sustainable economic growth through agriculture.
SLeCAD continues to position itself as a strategic platform connecting farmers, investors, agribusinesses, financial institutions, development partners, and Government stakeholders in advancing agricultural transformation and private sector development in Sierra Leone.
📌 Watch the full engagement video on our YouTube channel
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