By Saidu Jalloh, Reporter, Daily Scope
Freetown, Sierra Leone — A three-day workshop aimed at creating a National Soil Information Roadmap concluded Wednesday at the Atlantic Hotel, bringing together national and international experts to enhance agricultural productivity through improved soil data.
Held from October 13 to 15, 2025, the workshop was organized by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in partnership with the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI), the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), and the International Soil Reference and Information Centre (ISRIC).
The primary aim of the initiative is to establish a comprehensive roadmap to promote sustainable land use and improve farm yields, aligning with the government’s Feed Salone Initiative, which seeks to revolutionize the nation’s agricultural sector.
Dr. Abdul Rahman Conteh, Acting Director General of SLARI, described the forthcoming roadmap as “a strategic tool for harmonizing soil information.” He noted that coordinated data management will enhance research capabilities and empower farmers to make informed decisions.
Technical sessions led by ISRIC experts focused on digital soil mapping and the development of a National Soil Information System (NaSIS). This system will serve as a centralized repository for soil data, supporting agricultural planning and investment.
Dr. Kepifri Lakoh, Program Manager of the Food System Resilience Program, emphasized the initiative’s importance for national food security. “Through this roadmap, we are building the evidence base that will enable farmers, researchers, and policymakers to collaborate more effectively,” he explained, highlighting its role in guiding decisions related to crop suitability and soil fertility.
Dr. Alfred O. Dixon, IITA’s Country Representative, hailed the workshop as a “major milestone in Sierra Leone’s journey toward evidence-based agricultural transformation.”
Participants agreed on several next steps, including finalizing the roadmap document and creating a platform for coordinating national soil data. Once completed, the roadmap is expected to ensure that agricultural interventions under the Feed Salone Initiative are grounded in scientific evidence regarding the nation’s soils.
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