The Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr. Simeon K. Ehui, who also serves as the Regional Director for CGIAR Africa, led a delegation of senior members from the institute on a courtesy visit to His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio in Freetown.
Dr. Ehui expressed the team's gratitude to President Bio, emphasizing that the day marked a significant milestone in their shared journey towards realizing the ambitious and transformative vision of the FEED SALONE agenda.
He highlighted
that their visit underscored the strong partnership between the Government of
Sierra Leone and the IITA, as well as their collective commitment to a brighter
future for the people of Sierra Leone.
Commending President Bio's leadership and dedication to empowering and feeding Sierra Leoneans, Dr. Ehui stated, “The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture stands with you, Mr. President, as a steadfast ally in this endeavor.
Our reach
extends across Africa and beyond, working hand in hand with partners like
Sierra Leone to uplift communities and drive meaningful change. His Excellency,
IITA is here today to explore new avenues of collaboration with your esteemed
office.”
He
further added, “With the right funding, strong collaboration, and clear,
demand-driven goals, the farmers of Sierra Leone will be equipped to harness
the power of climate-smart agriculture and value-added technologies. This will
translate into greater food security, improved health outcomes, and increased
incomes for countless families nationwide.”
Dr.
Ehui also assured that the benefits of their long-term partnership would extend
far and wide, with Sierra Leone gaining access to stress-tolerant crop
varieties, sustainable seed systems, safe food production technologies,
post-harvest innovations, and value-added processes that will enhance nutrition
and food security.
President
Julius Maada Bio, in turn, expressed profound gratitude to the IITA team for
accepting his invitation. He reiterated that agriculture is the cornerstone of
his flagship program, stating that Sierra Leone has the potential to feed its
citizens. However, he pointed out that the country lacks essential elements
such as seeds, methods to increase yield, and technical support, which is why
he extended the invitation to IITA.
The
President shared his belief that treating agriculture as a business could
become self-sustaining, eventually reducing the need for government support. He
recalled how Sierra Leone used to export rice, cacao, and coffee, among other
cash crops, but noted that despite having ample arable land and sufficient
rainfall, the country is still importing rice. He urged the IITA team to help
make agriculture more productive, thereby supporting employment and stimulating
economic growth.
“You
are a good partner, and as a government, we are looking for a strong seed
system to boost our sector. Nigeria has done well in this area, and partnering
with you is both laudable and timely. I am excited about this partnership
because I don’t want to fail. I know you will bring lots of experience to the
partnership. We want history to know that the IITA was part of our Feed Salone
Initiative drive,” President Bio reaffirmed.