By Saidu Jalloh | D.S Reporter
FREETOWN — Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has officially opened the 6th edition of the Market for Agricultural Innovations and Technologies (MITA 2026) in Freetown, bringing together more than 500 delegates from eight countries with over 100 agricultural technologies to transform livestock and aquaculture production.
The regional showcase, which opened on October 19th at the Bintumani Hotel, is focused on expanding access to innovations that enhance food production, build resilience and strengthen food security in countries implementing the World Bank-funded Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP).
Opening the event, VP Jalloh called for concrete action to ensure proven agricultural technologies reach and are adopted by farmers. He urged stronger regional cooperation and deeper partnerships among governments, private sector players and development partners to accelerate agricultural transformation across the region.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, said recent global crises have exposed the fragility of food supply systems, reinforcing the urgency to strengthen local production. He said President Julius Maada Bio’s Feed Salone initiative remains central to Sierra Leone’s drive to achieve food self-sufficiency, boost local production and create jobs.
Dr. Kpaka reiterated the call for Sierra Leoneans to “grow what they eat and export what they grow,” adding that private sector participation, investment and technology are indispensable to unlocking the country’s agricultural potential.
World Bank FSRP Task Team Leader, Adetunji Oredipe, underscored the importance of providing farmers with improved seeds and climate-smart technologies to increase productivity amid climate challenges, while emphasizing regional collaboration for faster technology adoption.
Board Member of CORAF, Dr. Kalifa Traore, described MITA 2026 as a strategic platform for showcasing and promoting the transfer of agricultural innovations across member countries.
The event is organized by CORAF and hosted by the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI), with funding from the World Bank through the FSRP.
MITA 2026 is aligned with the Feed Salone agenda, which seeks to make agriculture a key driver of food security, resilience and economic growth through research, innovation, investment and regional cooperation.
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