His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, joined the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, development partners, and farmers from across the nation to mark the first anniversary of the Feed Salone Initiative during the World Food Day celebrations, themed “Right to Food for a Better Life and a Better Future.” The President urged Sierra Leoneans at the Kailahun Town Field, Eastern Region to take the initiative of growing their own food, even in their backyards.
The President emphasized that while large-scale farming plays a critical role in realizing the Feed Salone
objectives, if every citizen takes part in cultivating their food, his vision of food self-sufficiency for the nation will soon be a reality. He asserted that no nation could thrive without its people engaging in an agricultural revolution and called on all Sierra Leoneans to fully support the Feed Salone program for the greater good of the country. President Bio reflected on how his flagship program during his first term focused on education, leading to an increase in school audendance among girls. He took the opportunity to express gratitude to the First Lady, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, for her mealy advocacy for the protection of girls in the country. Encouraging all Sierra Leoneans to engage in agriculture regardless of their background, President Bio showcased his own endeavors, highlighting the cultivation of over 1,400 acres of rice and an additional 500 acres of oil palm on his farm.
The President emphasized that while large-scale farming plays a critical role in realizing the Feed Salone objectives, if every citizen takes part in cultivating their food, his vision of food self-sufficiency for the nation will soon be a reality. He asserted that no nation could thrive without its people engaging in an agricultural revolution and called on all Sierra Leoneans to fully support the Feed Salone program for the greater good of the country. President Bio reflected on how his flagship program during his first term focused on education, leading to an increase in school audendance among girls. He took the opportunity to express gratitude to the First Lady, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, for her mealy advocacy for the protection of girls in the country. Encouraging all Sierra Leoneans to engage in agriculture regardless of their background, President Bio showcased his own endeavors, highlighting the cultivation of over 1,400 acres of rice and an additional 500 acres of oil palm on his farm.
Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka confirmed that farmers are responding positively to the President’s call for increased agricultural involvement, highlighting leading women farmers, including those in the diaspora. He reassured stakeholders that their contributions in rice, onion, seed production, poultry and egg production are crucial for conserving foreign reserves.
The Minister pledged that the Feed Salone initiative will persist until Sierra Leone can produce more affordable rice than imported varieties. He called for improved market access through better infrastructure, financial support for farmers and job creation within the sector. Emphasizing unity in agricultural efforts, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka reiterated, “Together, we can grow what we eat,” encouraging all citizens to engage actively in the Feed Salone initiative.
A Beacon of Rural Transformation: Honoring Mohamed Tejan Kella
Recognition at the Highest Level
At the 2024 World Food Day commemoration in Kailahun, His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio honored Mohamed Tejan Kella, the head of the Rural Finance and Community Improvement Programme (RFCIP), for his exceptional leadership in agricultural transformation. Recognized as a Master Farmer, Kella stood beside the nation’s top dignitaries — not only for his work in rice development and rural finance, but for the lives he continues to impact across Sierra Leone.
This event also marked the first anniversary of the Feed Salone Initiative, making the recognition all the more symbolic. It was Kella’s third presidential acknowledgment a powerful statement of his enduring influence on national development.
Beyond Finance: Empowering the Next Generation
While many know Tejan Kella for his achievements in agriculture, his legacy runs deeper. He is a mentor, reformer, and changemaker. His efforts have helped shape hundreds of young leaders, farmers, and entrepreneurs through practical skills training, inclusive finance, and mentorship.
As a direct beneficiary of his leadership, I can personally attest to his unwavering commitment to youth development. His passion has opened doors for many, including myself, who would not have otherwise had access to training, opportunity, or a platform to grow.
Staying Rooted While Reaching High Despite his demanding national role, Kella has never lost sight of his roots. His community remains at the center of his vision. From launching apprenticeship schemes and agribusiness hubs to helping youth access affordable finance, his work has become a model of rural transformation.
Kella continues to lead with humility and resolve proving that impact is not measured only by titles, but by the number of lives transformed. A Lasting Legacy Kella’s journey has not been without challenges. But through it all, he has demonstrated the resilience, clarity, and grace of a true servant leader. His ability to combine technical expertise with grassroots empathy is what sets him apart.
His story is one of perseverance — a story that reminds every farmer, youth, and rural entrepreneur that with vision and hard work, lasting change is possible.
As Sierra Leone moves forward in its drive for food self-sufficiency and rural empowerment, leaders like Mohamed Tejan Kella continue to light the path. His work is not just shaping the present — it is building the future.
