Research, innovation, technologies should drive Africa’s agriculture – Sierra Leone president

Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone, has said that research, innovation and technologies will help to drive and transform Africa’s agriculture if vigorously pursued by Africa.

Bio, who stated this at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Headquarters in Ibadan, during a welcome address at the Presidential Visit Programme for the President of Sierra Leone, themed: “The Power of Improved Technologies and Public-Private Partnership to Accelerate the Feed Salone Strategy.”noted that there is a need for a strong partnership and collaboration that would bring about food sufficiency, economic boost as well as positive progress and development for farmers and agribusiness.

He assured of collaboration between the Nigerian and Sierra Leonean Governments to tackle challenges in food production and other agriculture-related problems.

Meanwhile, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, who was also at the event, noted that his administration’s commitment to doing agriculture differently led to creation of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA) and the subsequent upgrade of the moribund Fasola Farms, Oyo, to Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub.

He added that the decision had paid off with African Development Bank (AfDB) designating the Hub as the first Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in Nigeria, noting that his Administration had walked the talk on Agriculture revolution in the State, hence the positive results being witnessed in agribusiness sector.

Whike charging the Sierra Leonean President to adopt the Oyo State Agribusiness model for his Country, the governor said: “It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the pacesetter State.

“For a fact, when we came into government in 2019, we knew agriculture would be one of the pillars on which the economic transformation of Oyo State would be built.

“We started by creating a strategy document, The Roadmap for Accelerated Development of Oyo State (2019-2023). We have since followed that with The Roadmap for Sustainable Development of Oyo State (2023-2027).

“Before I leave office, I will also produce a document that I will hand over to the incoming administration. It will be The Roadmap for Continuous Development of Oyo State (2027 and beyond). So, we will continue to take steps to modernise our agricultural sector and enhance food security as well as stimulate economic growth.

“About 2020, we signed the OYSADA law and it has been an agency which has served as a special purpose vehicle for agribusiness partnership between the state, the private sector and development organisations. It is a model I will recommend for Sierra Leone.

“About a year later, we started developing the first agribusiness industrial hub, which would serve as a pilot for other developments. I spoke about this earlier; it is the first APZ in Nigeria and we have already kicked-started the next one in Eruwa. We also have another one coming up in Ijaye through collaboration with the French Government.”