By Joseph Momoh, Reporter D.S.
Sierra Leone’s Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, has officially commissioned the country’s first large poultry feed plant in Waterloo, marking a significant advancement in the nation’s agricultural sector.
The plant, established by Eastern Farmers Agric and General Enterprise (EFAGE) in partnership with Trouw Nutrition of Nutreco, a Netherlands-based corporation, aims to enhance the chicken industry in Sierra Leone. The commissioning ceremony, held on March 12, 2025, was celebrated as a pivotal milestone in the Feed Salone program, which seeks to reduce the country’s dependence on imported food while promoting local agricultural production.
Sahr L. Jusu, EFAGE’s Executive Chairman, emphasized the importance of this development, noting that the collaboration initially focused on importing feeds and has now evolved into the establishment of a commercial feed mill. He highlighted the company’s commitment to supporting local farmers through past initiatives, including a seminar in April 2024 that engaged 50 poultry producers and a survey involving 54 farmers in the Western Area.
According to the survey, 65% of farmers create their own feed using local ingredients, with feed costs comprising an overwhelming 75-80% of their operating expenses. Notably, 91% of surveyed farmers expressed a keen interest in affordable homemade feed, should it be competitively priced. These findings underscore the strong demand for high-quality, locally produced poultry feed in Sierra Leone.
Remio De Waal, representing Hendrix, affirmed his company’s commitment to aiding EFAGE with expertise and technology to ensure the production of high-quality chicken feed. Hendrix’s collaboration is set to introduce innovative technologies into local feed manufacturing, further enhancing the industry’s capacity.
The President of the Pig and Poultry Farmers Association lauded the advancements within the sector, highlighting that feed costs remain the most significant hurdle for poultry farmers. He noted that, six years ago, Sierra Leone produced only 20% of its poultry eggs, a figure that has now surged to over 60%.
Minister Kpaka praised the newly commissioned feed mill, stating that it possesses the capability to manufacture 250,000 bags of feed annually, addressing one of the poultry industry’s most pressing challenges: the availability and affordability of quality feed. The launch of this feed mill is anticipated to significantly support the burgeoning poultry sector, ensuring a steady supply of cost-effective, high-quality feed while contributing to the nation’s broader agricultural and economic development goals.
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