The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has on Tuesday, 1st April 2025, officially handed over the Digital Farmer Registry to the Mano River Union during a well-attended ceremony at the MRU Secretariat in Freetown. This vital platform will transform regional agriculture, enhancing farmer data management & decision-making, and supporting food security & rural development across MRU member states.

In her opening remark, Mrs Ama Gborie Foday, Deputy Secretary, said the initiative is a transformational tool that will empower policymakers, development partners, and most importantly, farmers with real-time, reliable and structured agro-data to enhance better planning for targeted intervention and informed decision making.

“On behalf of the Mano River Union Secretariat and our esteemed member states – Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone, I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for their unwavering support in making this initiative a reality”. She said. Reaffirming the MRU’s commitment to the effective and sustainable implementation of the initiative.

Saeed Abubakar Bancie, FAO Representative in Sierra Leone, on behalf of Madam Bintia S. Tchicaya, FAO Program Lead for Social Protection in Africa said, the event marks a pivotal milestone in the execution of the FAO/MRU joint work plan on social protection and reaffirmed the shared commitment to enhancing food security and nutrition while strengthening the linkages with social protection initiatives in the Mano River region.

“The platform is more than just a technological advancement, the Digital Farmer Registry is a powerful enabler of inclusive. Data-driven Agricultural policies, planning and decision-making. By establishing a structured and reliable database for farmers, their activities and their needs”. Bancie Remarked.

His Excellency, Ambassador Simon M.B Harrison, Mano River Union Secretary General, said the initiative serves as a catalyst for agricultural growth, economic empowerment and regional integration. He extended his deepest gratitude to FAO and all those who have contributed to the success of the initiative and expressed optimism that the ceremony will mark the beginning of a new era for Digital innovation in agriculture and social protection in the MRU region.

The handing-over ceremony was preceded by a training of trainers session inaugurated by Harding Bockarie Wuyango, FAOR Programs, and participants selected from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), MRU Secretariat staff and other stakeholders. The training was facilitated by SmartConekt.

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