Pavi Fort Al-Associates (SL) Ltd is constructing major irrigation and energy infrastructure to support a 5,000-hectare rice cultivation project in Torma Bum Chiefdom, Bonthe District, under the Government’s Feed Salone Initiative.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pavi Fort Al-Associates, Alimu Sanu Barrie, provided an update on the project during President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s tour of the Torma Bum Rice Farm on Friday, 31 July 2026.
Pavi Fort Chairman said the company is developing a comprehensive irrigation system designed to support year-round rice cultivation and significantly increase agricultural productivity in the area.
He explained that the project includes the installation of five pump houses, each with a one-megawatt power requirement, to draw water from the river and distribute it across the rice fields. Pavi Fort is also constructing approximately 57 kilometres of irrigation canals to ensure that water reaches the cultivated areas, particularly during the dry season when the natural flow of water to the farms is limited.
The Chairman disclosed that the company would install a six-megawatt solar power system to operate the irrigation infrastructure. He added that President Bio had instructed that part of the electricity generated should also be supplied to the Torma Bum township for the benefit of residents.
Chairman Alimu Sanu Barrie further revealed that the President had directed the construction of a three-kilometre tarred road within the township to improve accessibility and support commercial and agricultural activities.
Providing an update on implementation, Chairman Alimu Sanu Barrie said the first two sectors, covering 2,000 hectares, are expected to be completed by April, while the remaining 3,000 hectares are scheduled for completion by June under the company’s implementation plan.
According to him, the infrastructure is expected to transform rice production at Torma Bum by increasing operational capacity from the current 20 per cent to about 90 per cent once the project is completed.
Alimu Sanu Barrie reaffirmed Pavi Fort Al-Associates’ commitment to the Feed Salone Initiative, describing the company as a major development partner providing the infrastructure required to ensure the project’s long-term success.
During the tour, President Bio inspected ongoing rice cultivation undertaken by Fambul Rice and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, as well as the irrigation canals and supporting infrastructure being constructed by Pavi Fort.
Addressing stakeholders, President Bio reiterated his Government’s determination to increase domestic food production and reduce Sierra Leone’s dependence on imported food.
“We should be able to cultivate what we eat. I invite the private sector to invest in agriculture. I am pleased to see Fambul Rice already producing for the market and I am impressed by the work the company has done here,” President Bio said.
The President noted that Sierra Leone possesses sufficient land, water resources and favourable climatic conditions to become a leading agricultural producer. He encouraged local entrepreneurs and foreign investors to take advantage of the opportunities available in the agricultural sector.
President Bio also commended the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces for supporting the Feed Salone Initiative through rice cultivation and encouraged the Sierra Leone Police to undertake similar agricultural projects.
He disclosed that the Government plans to construct the Koribondo–Torma Bum road to improve access, reduce investment risks and facilitate the transportation of agricultural produce to markets.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, briefed the President on the investments and ongoing developments at the Torma Bum Rice Farm. He thanked President Bio for his leadership and commitment to transforming agriculture into a major driver of food security and economic growth.
Paramount Chief of Bum Chiefdom, PC Alex Maada Kainpumu, expressed appreciation to President Bio for reviving the Torma Bum Rice Farm after more than four decades of neglect.
The irrigation, solar-energy and road infrastructure being developed by Pavi Fort is expected to expand commercial rice cultivation, create employment and position Torma Bum as a major agricultural production centre under the Feed Salone Initiative.
