FAO Transfers Digital Farmer Registry to Mano River Union to Enhance Regional Agriculture

On Tuesday, April 1, 2025, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) officially transferred the Digital Farmer Registry to the Mano River Union during a ceremony at the MRU Secretariat in Freetown. This platform aims to revolutionize regional agriculture by enhancing farmer data management, improving decision-making, and strengthening food security and rural development across MRU member states.

In her opening remarks, Mrs. Ama Gborie Foday, Deputy Secretary, described the initiative as a transformative tool that will equip policymakers, development partners, and farmers with real-time, reliable, and structured agricultural data, thus enabling more effective planning for targeted interventions and informed decision-making.

"On behalf of the Mano River Union Secretariat and its member states – Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, and Sierra Leone – I express sincere gratitude to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for its support in realizing this initiative," she stated, reaffirming the MRU's commitment to the initiative's effective and sustainable implementation.

Saeed Abubakar Bancie, FAO Representative in Sierra Leone, representing Madam Bintia S. Tchicaya, FAO Program Lead for Social Protection in Africa, stated that the event marks a significant milestone in the implementation of the FAO/MRU joint work plan on social protection. He emphasized the commitment to enhancing food security and nutrition while strengthening connections with social protection initiatives in the Mano River region.

"The Digital Farmer Registry represents more than a technological advancement; it serves as a powerful enabler of inclusive, data-driven agricultural policies, planning, and decision-making. It establishes a structured and reliable database for farmers, their activities, and their needs," Bancie noted.

His Excellency, Ambassador Simon M.B. Harrison, Mano River Union Secretary General, characterized the initiative as a catalyst for agricultural growth, economic empowerment, and regional integration. He expressed deep appreciation to the FAO and all contributors to the initiative's success, expressing optimism that the ceremony would herald a new era for digital innovation in agriculture and social protection within the MRU region.

Prior to the handover ceremony, a training of trainers session was inaugurated by Harding Bockarie Wuyango, FAOR Programs. Participants were selected from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), MRU Secretariat staff, and other stakeholders. The training was facilitated by SmartConekt.