Magburaka, Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone 22 October 2026 the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Jiwoh Emmanuel Abdulai, joined His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, to celebrate World Food Day and the third anniversary of the Government’s flagship Feed Salone initiative in Magburaka, Tonkolili District. The celebration highlighted Sierra Leone’s commitment to strengthening food security, increasing domestic food production, improving agricultural livelihoods and building a more resilient and sustainable food system. Promoting Environmental Sustainability for Food Security The participation of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change underscored the critical relationship between environmental protection, climate resilience and sustainable agricultural development. Agriculture depends heavily on healthy soils, reliable water resources, biodiversity and favourable climatic conditions. However, climate change, deforestation, land degradation, soil erosion and changing rainfall patterns continue to pose significant challenges to agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods.
The Minister’s participation highlighted the importance of integrating environmental sustainability into national agricultural development strategies to ensure that increased food production does not come at the expense of forests, biodiversity and other vital natural resources. Supporting the Feed Salone Initiative The celebration reinforced the Government’s determination to advance the Feed Salone initiative under the leadership of President Bio. The initiative seeks to increase local food production, reduce dependence on imported food, create employment opportunities and improve food availability for Sierra Leoneans. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change plays a complementary role by promoting climate adaptation, sustainable land management, ecosystem restoration and environmental conservation. These interventions are essential to safeguarding agricultural resources and strengthening the capacity of farmers to respond to climate-related risks. Stronger collaboration between the environment and agriculture sectors will help ensure that Sierra Leone’s agricultural transformation is productive, inclusive and environmentally sustainable.
Building Climate-Resilient Agriculture Climate-resilient agriculture remains essential to protecting farmers and rural communities against the effects of floods, droughts, irregular rainfall and other climate-related hazards. Measures such as agroforestry, sustainable soil management, watershed protection, forest restoration and improved water management can contribute to agricultural productivity while reducing pressure on the natural environment. Through coordinated action, the Ministries of Environment and Climate Change and Agriculture and Food Security can help promote agricultural practices that protect ecosystems, sustain livelihoods and support long-term food security. A Shared Vision for Sierra Leone The participation of President Bio and the two ministers demonstrated the importance of a whole-of-government approach to food security, environmental protection and climate resilience. As Sierra Leone advances its Feed Salone agenda, partnerships among government institutions, farmers, women, young people, civil society, the private sector and development partners will remain essential to achieving sustainable agricultural growth. The celebration reaffirmed a fundamental message: food security and environmental sustainability must go hand in hand. Protecting the environment today is essential to securing food, livelihoods and prosperity for present and future generations of Sierra Leoneans.
