By Joseph Momoh, Daily Scope Newspaper
After three decades of service with the United Nations, Madam Sitta Kaikai traded international diplomacy for poultry farming in her home district of Kono, where she is now building one of the district’s fastest-growing agricultural businesses.
Kaikai returned home determined to feed her community and create jobs for young people. What began with 1,000 birds using her personal savings has now grown to 3,000 birds, with an ambitious target of 20,000.
“I worked for the UN for thirty years, but what would I have gained if I failed to feed my community?” she said.
On her return, she organised women into farming groups to produce groundnuts and maize. The groups, however, struggled with limited farming knowledge, inadequate resources and low production.
Undeterred, Kaikai expanded into rice production, Sierra Leone’s staple food, to increase the availability of locally grown rice.
Her breakthrough came through the Food System Resilience Program (FSRP), implemented through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. The programme provided her with seeds, fertiliser and farming machinery at a time when COVID-19 restrictions had disrupted access to essential farming inputs.
The support helped her expand her poultry operations and cut production costs.
In 2025, Kaikai was among 62 agripreneurs selected to benefit from an FSRP matching grant valued at approximately $150,000. The funding is supporting her plan to increase the farm’s capacity to 20,000 birds.
As part of the expansion, she has completed new poultry structures, purchased machinery for producing animal feed and acquired tractors to cultivate maize for her poultry operations.
Previously, the high cost of buying feed made it difficult for her to generate substantial profits. Producing her own maize is expected to significantly reduce those expenses.
The business currently employs about 20 people, most of them young people, providing them with opportunities to earn an income.
Beyond her poultry operations, Kaikai also supports four farmer groups, each consisting of 25 members. She provides them with seeds and land preparation services to help them grow maize, rice and vegetables.
Through these activities, she is combining poultry production with crop farming while supporting other farmers to increase their agricultural output.
Her long-term target remains clear: grow the poultry business to 20,000 birds while continuing to create employment and improve access to locally produced food in Kono District.
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