Sierra Leone's Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, recently embarked on a tour of major poultry investments in the country's Northern and Northwestern regions. This tour is part of the government's efforts to promote private-sector participation in the agriculture sector under the Feed Salone initiative. The initiative aims to boost domestic food production and strengthen local agricultural production.
During the tour, Minister Kpaka visited Big Things Poultry and Leecon Poultry, two prominent poultry farms in the region. These farms have a combined hatchery operation that produces 12,000 chicks weekly and provides employment for over 500 people. The Minister's visit highlighted the growing involvement of private investors in Sierra Leone's poultry sector, which is contributing to employment and skills development.
The Minister also inspected the developing poultry facility of Beliyia Agricultural Investment Company Limited in Magbema Chiefdom, Kambia District. The project, which is being constructed on over 100 acres, is expected to begin operations with an initial capacity of 250,000 birds. The facility has provisions for future expansion, and once operational, it is expected to create over 200 full-time employment opportunities.
In addition to the Beliyia project, Minister Kpaka visited Eco Poultry Farm in Songo, which is nearing completion. The facility is expected to accommodate an initial 80,000 layers, with plans to expand its capacity to 240,000 birds. The farm is set to receive its first flock of 20,000 chicks upon completion, marking another significant investment aimed at increasing domestic poultry production.
The Minister's tour showcased the government's commitment to promoting private-sector investment in the agriculture sector. The Feed Salone initiative is driving growth in the poultry industry, with various investments contributing to employment, skills development, domestic food production, and food security. These developments align with the broader objectives of the Feed Salone agenda.
The investments in the poultry sector are expected to have a positive impact on the local economy. The creation of employment opportunities and the increase in domestic poultry production will contribute to the country's economic growth. The government's efforts to promote private-sector participation in agriculture are also expected to attract more investors to the sector.
The tour by Minister Kpaka demonstrates the government's focus on driving growth in the agriculture sector. With the Feed Salone initiative, the government aims to strengthen local agricultural production and encourage increased private-sector investment in the sector. The various poultry projects visited by the Minister are a testament to the progress being made in this regard.
Key points
- The Feed Salone initiative aims to boost domestic food production and strengthen local agricultural production in Sierra Leone.
- The poultry projects visited by Minister Kpaka are expected to create employment opportunities and contribute to the country's economic growth.
- The government's efforts to promote private-sector participation in agriculture are driving growth in the poultry industry.
