The re-elected presidential aspirant for the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party, incumbent President Rtd Brig. Dr. Julius Maada Bio has said that his government will ban the importation of the country’s staple diet, rice, if he is re-elected as president for the second time.

Addressing a mammoth crowd of supporters of the ruling Sierra Leone’s (SLPP) party at Milen field, off Blackhall road at Kissy, Eastend of Freetown, Mr. Bio made emphasis on the agricultural sector which he speculated will help eradicate poverty and boost the economy that will lead to food self- sufficiency in the country.

Incumbent president, Mr. Maada Bio told the jampacked crowd to re-elect him into the Office of  President on June 24th polls so that he will halt the importation of rice after two years of his second term in office, adding that his government will  continue to embark on  commercial and mechanized farming with a robust method.

The Agriculture sector plays a pivotal role in any nation’s development and for a country to be classified as a developing nation, the sitting government must be able to feed its people and should make sure nobody goes to bed with an empty stomach as every citizen should be well fed as a responsible government.

In his 2023 campaign manifesto, one key priority of Mr. Maada Bio is to feed salone which is an initiative to boost agricultural productivity towards ensuring food security and inclusive economic growth. Mr. Maada Bio’s top priority if re-elected for the second term is for Sierra Leone to be food self-sufficient  by increasing investment  in the agriculture sector , boost food production, reduce hunger and poverty, create jobs, boost export earnings and build resilence in the face of climate change.