By Ibrahim Sesay 

‎The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) has, on Thursday September 18, presented its Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2026 to 2028 at the Ministry of Finance Conference Hall, bringing together Government officials, development partners and Civil Society groups to review plans aimed at transforming Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector.

‎Delivering the keynote address, Deputy Minister of Agriculture 1, Dr. Theresa Tenneh Dick, outlined the Ministry’s proposed budget, describing it as a forward-looking strategy centered on productivity, youth engagement and modernization. She stressed that agriculture remains the backbone of the economy and called for more investment, modern infrastructure and innovative approaches to ensure food security and inclusive growth.

‎Dr. Theresa Tenneh Dick praised the resilience of farmers and agricultural workers, noting their crucial role in sustaining livelihoods despite challenges. “We must move agriculture beyond subsistence to a thriving economic sector that attracts our young people,” she said.

‎The Chief Agriculture Officer, Professor Abdulai Jalloh, presented the key deliverables for 2026 under the Feed Salone Strategic Objectives. He explained that the Ministry’s roadmap is built on six main pillars, each tied to a specific deliverable.

‎Under mechanization and irrigation, the Ministry plans to mechanically plough 35,000 hectares of land, including 30,000 hectares of riverine and boli land and 5,000 hectares of inland valley swamps for rice cultivation. In the area of seeds and input systems, 3,375 cocoa seedlings will be raised to establish 3,000 hectares of cocoa farms.

‎On aggregation, processing and marketing linkages, the Ministry intends to rehabilitate 420 feeder roads and farm tracks to ease the transportation of farm produce. With regard to agricultural finance, plans are underway to support the establishment of an Agricultural Development Bank that will provide access to credit for enterprising farmers across scales.

‎Professor Abdulai Jalloh added that the Ministry will also push forward agricultural technology and climate-smart agriculture by developing and promoting 100 hectares of integrated land management systems that will allow year-round farming. Equally important, the empowerment of women and youth remains a cross-cutting goal, with programs designed to strengthen their participation and improve productivity.

‎The Chief Agriculture Officer also drew attention to the challenges confronting the Ministry, which include late disbursement of funds, delays in recruiting staff to support field activities and a shortage of logistics such as vehicles and motorbikes.

‎To address those issues, he recommended timely release of funds since agricultural activities are time-bound, closer coordination with the Human Resource Management Office to speed up staff recruitment and greater Government support to provide the logistics needed for effective field delivery.

‎Collaboration was also emphasized as a crucial factor for success. Dr. Dr. Theresa Tenneh Dick called on Government institutions, the private sector and farming communities to support the Ministry’s agenda, assuring stakeholders of MAFS’s commitment to provide technical guidance, policy leadership and institutional backing for effective implementation.

‎The session ended with Dr. Theresa Tenneh Dick encouraging open dialogue on the proposed budget, inviting contributions from stakeholders to strengthen the final document. She thanked the Ministry of Finance, development partners and other actors for their continued support, reiterating that agriculture is not just a Government priority but a shared national responsibility. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/agriculture-ministry-presents-2026-2028-budget-prioritizing-youth-empowerment-technology-food-security/