By Kadijatu Bangura, Reporter D.S
FREETOWN — Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has officially opened the 6th Market for Agricultural Innovations and Technologies (MITA 2026) in Freetown, bringing together over 500 participants from eight countries to showcase cutting-edge solutions for food security.
The high-level event, held today 19th October 2026 at the Bintumani Hotel, is hosting over 100 proven agricultural technologies and innovations focused on livestock and aquaculture.
MITA 2026 is organised by CORAF and hosted by the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) and the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI), with funding from the World Bank under the Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP).
The conference has drawn Agriculture Ministers from the eight FSRP-implementing countries, policymakers, researchers, farmers, agri-tech developers and private sector players.
In his keynote address, Vice President Jalloh called for urgent action to move proven technologies from shelves to farms, stressing that innovation must translate into higher productivity and real food security for citizens. He underscored the need to scale up successful models, strengthen regional technology-sharing, and deepen partnerships between governments, private sector and development partners.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, said recent global crises have exposed the fragility of food supply chains, making it imperative for Sierra Leone to boost domestic production. He described President Julius Maada Bio’s Feed Salone flagship programme as the cornerstone of the country’s drive to achieve food self-sufficiency, create jobs and build economic resilience.
Dr. Kpaka reiterated the government’s call for Sierra Leoneans to “grow what we eat and export what we grow,” noting that private sector investment is critical to unlocking the nation’s vast agricultural potential.
World Bank Task Team Leader for FSRP, Adetunji Oredipe, emphasized that access to quality seeds and the right technologies remains key to transforming agriculture, especially as farmers face climate change. He called for stronger regional collaboration to accelerate adoption.
Dr. Kalifa Traore of the CORAF Board said MITA provides a unique platform to showcase, transfer and scale agricultural innovations across West Africa.
MITA 2026 is expected to boost Sierra Leone’s Feed Salone agenda by linking research, innovation, technology and investment to drive food security, resilience and inclusive growth.
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