Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Henry Musa Kpaka, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Amara Idara Bangura, conducted a high-level joint inspection of strategic rice production infrastructure in Tormabum as part of the Feed Salone initiative.
The visit underscores a growing operational alliance between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) to accelerate large-scale rice production under the government’s flagship Feed Salone agenda.
During the visit was a detailed assessment of ongoing irrigation works, considered critical to unlocking year-round farming. Furthermore, the Minister and team examined progress on canals, water control systems, and land preparation.
Minister Kpaka emphasized that the irrigation scheme is pivotal to transforming Tormabum into a major rice production hub.
Additionally, according to the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Amara Idara Bangura, the visit also highlighted the military’s expanding footprint in agriculture. The RSLAF is currently cultivating approximately 640 acres of cashew farm, with immediate plans to scale to 1,000 acres. Nationwide, military-managed rice fields now exceed 7,000 acres across Moyamba, Port Loko, and Tonkolili districts, an indication of the Armed Forces’ strategic shift toward supporting national food systems.
Lieutenant General Bangura signaled readiness to deepen that commitment. Expressing a strong interest in expanding operations in Tormabum, he cited the availability of arable land and emerging infrastructure as key enablers for scaling production.
Finally, the delegation also toured the near-completed Tormabum Rice Hub, an integrated facility designed to provide milling, storage, and aggregation services. Once operational, the hub is expected to significantly reduce post-harvest losses, improve rice quality, and strengthen market linkages for both smallholder farmers and commercial producers.
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