By Amin Kef-Ranger

The Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Food Security, chaired by Hon. Sallieu Osman Sesay, has highly commended Pee Cee & Sons for its outstanding contribution to Sierra Leone’s Feed Salone initiative during an oversight visit to the company’s onion farm on Thursday October 9, 2025 in Lokomasama, Port Loko District.

The oversight visit, which forms part of Parliament’s broader mandate to monitor and evaluate agricultural investments across the country aimed to assess how major agribusiness operations are aligning with the Government’s agricultural transformation drive. The Committee also sought to ensure that the companies visited are operating in compliance with agreements previously ratified by Parliament.

During the visit, the Environmental and Social Security Manager of Pee Cee & Sons, Emmanuel Tamba Koroma, presented an overview of the farm’s activities. He explained that the company is currently cultivating approximately 120 hectares of onions, employing over 250 staff, the majority of whom are drawn from surrounding communities.

Emmanuel Tamba Koroma highlighted that Pee Cee & Sons has successfully completed several harvests and continues to supply fresh onions across the country. This, he said, has helped to reduce Sierra Leone’s dependence on imported onions, improve local food availability and stabilize market prices.

He further disclosed that the company places strong emphasis on health, safety and environmental sustainability, ensuring that farming operations are conducted responsibly and in line with national environmental standards. He also revealed that the company plans to expand cultivation by an additional 100 hectares to increase production capacity and create more employment opportunities for rural youth and women.

The Management of Pee Cee & Sons underscored its dedication to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), noting that the company continues to make valuable contributions to community development in the areas of health, education and youth empowerment.

Emmanuel Tamba Koroma stated that the company has supported various community projects, provided assistance to local clinics and engaged with traditional and community leaders to ensure mutual understanding and cooperation.

He reaffirmed Pee Cee & Sons’ commitment to supporting the Feed Salone initiative, which seeks to achieve food self-sufficiency through large-scale, modernized agriculture. “Our goal is to complement the Government’s vision by investing in sustainable agricultural production that empowers local communities and enhances food security,” he said.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Sallieu Osman Sesay, expressed satisfaction with the level of progress and professionalism demonstrated by Pee Cee & Sons.

He noted that the company’s operations reflect the spirit of the Feed Salone program launched by President Julius Maada Bio, which emphasizes private sector participation as a key driver of food production and economic growth.

“The Committee is very impressed with what we have seen here today,” Hon. Sallieu Osman Sesay stated. “Pee Cee & Sons has set a strong example of how local businesses can contribute to national development through agriculture. We encourage the Management to continue upholding best practices in transparency, environmental protection and workers’ welfare.”

He assured the Management that Parliament will continue to play its oversight role constructively, ensuring that policies and investments in the agriculture sector translate into tangible benefits for citizens.

The Committee’s visit to Pee Cee & Sons forms part of a wider oversight mission that also included a stop at Sunbird Bioenergy in Bombali District, where discussions focused on compliance, safety measures and employee welfare.

With its large-scale onion cultivation, strong community engagement, and ongoing expansion plans, Pee Cee & Sons has positioned itself as a model agribusiness in Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector. Its efforts not only align with the Government’s development priorities but also demonstrate how local investment can transform livelihoods and drive sustainable food production.

The nation’s ongoing drive under the Feed Salone agenda finds a shining example in the success story of Pee Cee & Sons, whose strong partnership with Parliament, the private sector and local communities demonstrates how collaboration can advance national food security and economic prosperity.