President Bio Declares Food Self-Sufficiency Key to Sierra Leone’s Freedom

President Julius Maada Bio has called for stronger national commitment to food production, declaring that Sierra Leone cannot consider itself truly free if it is unable to feed itself.

Delivering his address to mark the country’s 65th Independence Anniversary, President Bio identified agriculture as a key pillar of national development and economic transformation.

“A nation that cannot feed itself cannot call itself free,” the President stated.

He said the government is intensifying efforts under the Feed Salone programme to boost agricultural productivity and reduce the country’s dependence on imported food.

According to President Bio, the agriculture sector has continued to record steady progress, with farmers now benefiting from improved access to seeds, financing opportunities, and market linkages.

He added that agriculture is increasingly emerging as an engine of economic growth, driven by government investments aimed at increasing local production and strengthening food security nationwide.

The President further noted that ongoing infrastructure development, including feeder roads and bridges, is being expanded to connect farming communities to markets and improve distribution networks across the country.

He also disclosed that efforts are underway to develop rice production clusters as part of a broader national strategy to transition Sierra Leone from a consumption-based economy to a production-driven one.

President Bio said these initiatives reflect a deliberate policy direction focused on promoting self-sufficiency and reducing food imports.

In his message, he also urged Sierra Leoneans to unite in advancing national development and to take shared responsibility for the country’s future.

“Today, I ask every Sierra Leonean to choose Sierra Leone. Let us hold each other up,” he said.

The President reaffirmed his government’s commitment to sustaining agricultural reforms and ensuring that progress in the sector translates into long-term food security, economic resilience, and national prosperity.