On the morning of the 20th February, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, launched the Implementation Strategy for Pillar 3 of Feed Salone—Aggregation, Processing, and Marketing—in partnership with FAO and the EU. The strategy lays out a roadmap for strengthening market access, improving post-harvest processing, and ensuring that smallholder farmers benefit from structured value chains. Just hours later, the implementation of that strategy was set into motion as the Minister traveled to Rokupr, Magbema Chiefdom, Kambia District, to commission the first of ten rice mills under a government partnership with WFP and the Government of Japan.
This rice mill, with a capacity of one metric ton per hour, can process 20 bags of rice (50kg each) every hour, providing smallholder farmers with much-needed access to modern processing infrastructure. For years, farmers—particularly women—have struggled with poor-quality milling, reducing the value of their rice and increasing post-harvest losses. The new mill will enhance efficiency, produce higher-quality rice free of stones and impurities, and significantly cut down on manual labor. The facility will provide milling services for the local cooperative consisting of 300 women and 150 men, ensuring that the economic benefits are shared among farmers who previously had limited access to such infrastructure.
Beyond processing, the commissioning of this mill represents a major step toward strengthening rice aggregation and structured market access. The government is working with WFP to ensure that smallholder farmers have guaranteed buyers for their rice, reducing market uncertainties. WFP has committed to purchasing up to $700,000 worth of locally milled rice, ensuring that farmers in the region not only produce but also earn from their harvests. This aligns with the broader Feed Salone vision, which seeks to reduce Sierra Leone’s reliance on imported rice and position local farmers at the center of food security efforts.
This commissioning is just the first in a nationwide rollout of ten mills, all strategically placed in rice-producing areas to support processing, aggregation, and market expansion. With harvesting ongoing in many parts of the country, the timing is crucial, ensuring that rice produced this season can be processed immediately and sold at competitive prices. All ten mills are ready for operation, with commissioning events set to take place in the coming weeks.
With this milestone, Sierra Leone is moving closer to self-sufficiency in rice production. The successful commissioning of this first mill marks a significant shift in the country’s agricultural landscape, where investments in modern processing, aggregation, and structured markets will ensure that smallholder farmers are no longer left behind. As more mills come online, the Feed Salone vision of a resilient, market-driven agricultural sector is rapidly becoming a reality.