Agriculture Minister Partners with Paramount Chiefs

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) has intensified its engagement with Paramount Chiefs as part of efforts to strengthen the implementation of the Government’s ‘Feed Salone’ initiative across communities nationwide.

The engagement took place this morning at Youyi Building in Freetown, where the leadership of MAFS hosted and held discussions with the newly constituted Executive Team and Chairman of the National Council of Paramount Chiefs.

The meeting provided an important platform for both sides to discuss how Paramount Chiefs can play a more strategic role in supporting the implementation of agricultural policies and programmes at the community level.

At the centre of the discussions was the need to strengthen the connection between national agricultural policies and the realities faced by farmers and communities across Sierra Leone.

During the engagement, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security emphasized that Paramount Chiefs remain one of the most important links between government and rural communities.

The Minister noted that chiefs have a deep understanding of their communities and are therefore strategically positioned to provide valuable insight into whether government interventions are practical, appropriate and likely to succeed on the ground.

According to the Minister, while policies and programmes may be developed at the national level, their ultimate success depends largely on how effectively they are implemented within communities.

He stressed that traditional leaders can help government identify challenges early, mobilize communities, encourage participation and ensure that agricultural initiatives respond to the actual needs of farmers.

The Minister therefore called for stronger collaboration between MAFS and the National Council of Paramount Chiefs, particularly in the implementation of Feed Salone.

The newly appointed leadership of the National Council of Paramount Chiefs expressed strong support for the Minister’s vision and the Government’s efforts to transform Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector.

The Council, however, highlighted the importance of closing the gap that sometimes exists between policy formulation and implementation at community level.

For the Council, successful agricultural transformation cannot depend solely on policies developed in Freetown. Such policies must be translated into tangible programmes that reach farmers, communities and local agricultural actors.

The traditional leaders emphasized that their involvement can help ensure that government initiatives are better understood and embraced at the grassroots level.

They also underscored the importance of continuous consultation, community participation and feedback mechanisms that allow local leaders and farmers to communicate their experiences and concerns to policymakers.

The engagement comes at a time when the Government continues to place agriculture at the centre of its national development agenda through the ‘Feed Salone’ initiative.

‘Feed Salone’ is designed to increase agricultural productivity, strengthen food security, improve the livelihoods of farmers and reduce the country’s dependence on imported food.

The initiative has also placed greater emphasis on encouraging investment in agriculture, improving access to inputs and technology, strengthening value chains and creating opportunities for young people and women within the agricultural sector.

However, the implementation of such an ambitious programme requires cooperation among government institutions, traditional authorities, farmers, private-sector actors, development partners and communities.

The latest engagement with the National Council of Paramount Chiefs is therefore being viewed as an important step toward ensuring that traditional leadership becomes an active partner in the agricultural transformation process.

Paramount Chiefs occupy a unique position within Sierra Leone’s governance structure, particularly in rural communities.

Their influence extends to land management, community mobilisation, conflict resolution and local development. Their involvement in agricultural programmes can therefore help create an enabling environment for farmers and investors.

The chiefs can also contribute to the identification of suitable agricultural land, community mobilisation for farming initiatives and the resolution of local challenges that could affect agricultural projects.

The MAFS leadership’s engagement with the Council signals a recognition that government cannot transform agriculture alone and that community ownership is essential to the sustainability of national agricultural programmes.

Another significant moment during the engagement was the presentation of a certificate of recognition to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security in appreciation of his leadership and achievements in advancing Sierra Leone’s agricultural transformation agenda.

The recognition comes as the Minister approaches his fourth year in office, providing an opportunity to reflect on the progress made in repositioning agriculture as a central pillar of Sierra Leone’s economic and food-security strategy.

The certificate was presented as an acknowledgment of the Minister’s leadership and commitment to advancing the country’s agricultural transformation.

Receiving the recognition, the Minister reaffirmed the importance of collective responsibility in achieving meaningful and sustainable results in agriculture.

The meeting between MAFS and the National Council of Paramount Chiefs could mark the beginning of a stronger partnership between the Ministry and traditional authorities.

For Feed Salone to deliver its intended impact, stakeholders believe that policies must move beyond government offices and reach the farms, villages and communities where agricultural production actually takes place.

The involvement of Paramount Chiefs could provide an important channel for ensuring that local realities inform national decision-making while also helping communities understand and participate in government programmes.

As Sierra Leone continues its drive toward greater food self-sufficiency and a more productive agricultural economy, collaboration between government and traditional leadership is expected to remain critical.

The message emerging from the Youyi Building engagement is clear: agricultural transformation must be community-driven, locally understood and collectively implemented.

With stronger cooperation between MAFS and the Paramount Chiefs, the Feed Salone agenda could gain an important grassroots partnership capable of helping bridge the distance between policy and implementation and bringing the benefits of agricultural transformation closer to the people.