By Millicent Senava Mannah
As part of the ADORE-Project SLE 1070, the Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH) Sierra Leone organized a two-day discussion forum focusing on cocoa, coffee and cashew production, processing, value addition and policies. Held on October 10th and 11th, 2024, at the Family Kingdom on Lumley Beach Road, Freetown, the event brought together Government officials and Civil Society representatives to provide insights and support on navigating key issues in these sectors.
In his opening remarks, Gospell Matondi, Head of Programs at WHH, emphasized the importance of these three cash crops to Sierra Leone’s economy, heritage and resilience. He highlighted that the Forum’s primary goal was to address the challenges and opportunities within the value chain for these crops, particularly in preparation for the upcoming EU decortication-free regulations.
“The delay in the implementation of these regulations gives us a window of opportunity to exchange ideas, conduct actionable studies and discuss how to ensure sustainability, innovation and policy support for our farmers,” Gospell Matondi said. He also stressed the need to adopt sustainable agricultural practices, including climate-smart techniques, to align with global sustainability goals and promote climate resilience in farming operations. According to him, the Forum aimed to help farmers remain competitive in the global market while also boosting local economic benefits.
Delivering the keynote address, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Theresa Dick, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to sustainable agricultural development. She noted that the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Henry Kpaka, is a passionate advocate for agricultural transformation and that the Forum aligns with the Government’s Feed Salone initiative, which seeks to revamp the nation’s agricultural landscape through both local and international collaboration.
Theresa Dick outlined the vision of Feed Salone, highlighting significant strides made in rice production, value chain development and climate resilience. “This forum provides a platform to reflect on the achievements in agriculture over the past year and chart the path forward for continued progress,” she said. The Deputy Minister emphasized the Government’s strategy to develop agriculture holistically, from production to market access, ensuring maximum value at every stage of the process.
Dr. Vibbi of the Produce Monitoring Board provided an overview of the policies and national regulations impacting the cocoa, coffee and cashew sectors. He pointed out several challenges in implementing policies and called for stronger collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture. He also stressed the need to update agricultural policies in line with current trends and proposed the creation of regulations to guide the influx of synthetic fertilizers into the country.
Dr. Aisie Nana Victoria, representing GIZ, highlighted that approximately 20 million people across Africa are involved in cocoa production, yet only about 30% of that production is processed locally. She noted that while Africa holds a significant comparative advantage in cocoa production, issues such as quality control, certification and policy challenges remain critical hurdles for the industry. Dr. Aisie further discussed the difficulties Sierra Leonean farmers face in calculating living income and the effective implementation of policies that would improve their livelihoods.
Speakers from Njala University, SLARI (Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute) and Solidaridad also contributed valuable insights during the discussions, underscoring the Forum’s collaborative approach.
The Forum concluded with a series of practical solutions and key recommendations aimed at supporting the growth of the cocoa, coffee and cashew sectors, focusing on sustainability, market dynamics and policy reform. These discussions mark an important step in enhancing Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector and ensuring that farmers can thrive both locally and globally.
