His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has hosted a meeting with the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Dr Qu Dongyu, at his Presidential Lodge residence in Freetown. The visit marks a significant step toward deepening cooperation on sustainable food systems, agricultural productivity, and South-South collaboration.
Introducing the FAO delegation, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Musa Kpaka, noted that the visit followed a formal invitation extended by President Bio earlier this year during an engagement in Rome. He explained that the FAO team was in the country to assess opportunities for supporting the government’s agricultural agenda through collaborative interventions with cross-sectoral ministries.
FAO Director-General Dr Qu Dongyu expressed deep appreciation for President Bio’s invitation and hospitality. He described his visit to Sierra Leone as a testament to the importance the FAO attaches to its partnership with the country.
“Your Excellency, I am here with my team to honour your invitation. We intend to use the remaining two years of my tenure to fully support your government’s agenda. Your leadership and vision for agricultural transformation in Sierra Leone are compelling,” he said.
Dr Dongyu emphasized that the FAO team would be engaging with various ministries to identify targeted areas of technical and developmental support aligned with Sierra Leone’s priorities.
President Julius Maada Bio warmly welcomed the FAO delegation, expressing gratitude for their commitment to Sierra Leone’s agricultural transformation.
“On behalf of the government and people of Sierra Leone, I want to register my profound appreciation to you and your team for honouring my invitation. This is a gesture I do not take for granted,” President Bio stated.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to repositioning agriculture as a key driver of economic growth, job creation, and food self-sufficiency. The President emphasized the urgent need for strategic technical partnerships to realise the goals of the government’s flagship Feed Salone initiative.
“Agriculture in Sierra Leone must be transformed into a sector that is economically viable and attractive to investment. That transformation will not be possible without technical expertise, which is why your presence here is so important,” the President noted.
President Bio also recalled his meeting with Dr Dongyu in Rome, where he presented a compelling case for increased FAO support to Sierra Leone. The two leaders used the latest engagement to reaffirm the FAO’s longstanding role in supporting food security and agricultural development in the country.
They also agreed on the central role FAO plays in supporting the Feed Salone agenda and broader efforts to strengthen Sierra Leone’s food systems. President Bio underscored his administration’s strong political will to make agriculture the backbone of the nation’s economy and expressed optimism that the renewed collaboration with FAO would yield tangible results in the years ahead.
