Freetown, 8th September, 2026 – The Government of Sierra Leone has opened the 2026/27 Home‑Grown School Feeding Year by procuring one million kilograms of locally produced rice, equivalent to 20,000 50‑kg bags. Valued at NLe22 million (approximately US$1 million), the investment is injecting significant resources into the rural economy while securing a stable market for local farmers, according to Feed Salone and feedsalone.gov.sl.
The initiative, implemented in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), builds on last year’s progress and strengthens the link between domestic food production and national school feeding. Officials say the procurement not only supports nutrition for schoolchildren but also stimulates demand for Sierra Leone’s rice value chain.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, working with WFP, has complemented the procurement with wider investments in processing capacity. Ten high‑capacity rice mills have been provided to reduce post‑harvest losses, improve quality standards, and expand domestic milling output.
Minister Kpaka, speaking at the launch, described the programme as a tangible outcome of the Government’s Feed Salone agenda. He emphasized that public demand, when strategically directed, can drive agricultural growth, create jobs, and reinforce food security.
The procurement represents a dual‑impact investment: securing nutrition for schoolchildren while channelling government expenditure into local production systems. By guaranteeing demand, the programme provides farmers with predictable income streams and supports Sierra Leone’s broader economic diversification goals.
