Kambia, Sierra Leone-31 October 2025:

During the national World Food Day celebration held in Kambia, His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio officially launched the Rural Farmers Radio 98.9 FM, marking another milestone in Sierra Leone’s drive to transform and modernize its agricultural sector.

The new radio station is a groundbreaking initiative jointly financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of Sierra Leone. Hence it was established through the Rural Finance and Community Improvement Programme (RFCIP) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS). The station seeks to empower rural communities and smallholder farmers through improved access to agricultural information, financial literacy, and market opportunities.

Covering 75 percent of the country, the Rural Farmers Radio 98.9 FM will serve as a key communication platform delivering programmes on modern agronomic practices, climate-smart agriculture, market updates, and entrepreneurship. The initiative also aims to promote self-reliance and behavioral change among farmers—helping them shift from subsistence to commercial agriculture.

Declaring the station officially open, President Bio affirmed that “this radio is here to stay,” describing it as a vital tool to enhance agricultural awareness, promote market access, and support the government’s ongoing efforts to achieve food security under the Feed Salone Initiative. He commended IFAD for their strong partnership and continued investment in transforming rural livelihoods through access to finance and information dissemination.

“I am Julius Maada Bio the President of Sierra Leone, an active farmer with passion for farming because it is good for the nation because we can feed ourselves and create jobs for young Sierra Leoneans. I am calling on young Sierra Leoneans to grow what we eat and eat what we grow. This is my first time talking to you from this radio and it will not be the last cause I will be coming here to share my own experience as a farmer.”

In her statement, the IFAD Country Director, Madam Pascaline Barankeba, highlighted the event as a celebration of three important milestones—the commemoration of World Food Day, the second anniversary of the Feed Salone Initiative, and the launch of the Livestock and Livelihoods Development Project (LLDP)—alongside the historic opening of Sierra Leone’s first Rural Farmers Radio.

“Another important milestone today is the launch of Rural Farmers Radio, a first of its kind in Sierra Leone,” Madam Barankeba said. “This radio, initiated by the Government of Sierra Leone with IFAD’s support through the Rural Finance Programme, will bridge information gaps, strengthen financial literacy, and connect farmers to real-time agricultural advice, markets, and weather updates. It represents the power of communication as a driver of transformation for rural communities across Sierra Leone.”

President Bio emphasized that effective communication remains central to the success of the Feed Salone Initiative, as it ensures farmers across the country are informed, motivated, and equipped to adopt improved agricultural practices.

A major enabler of the station’s extensive reach is the support received by the radio from Africell Mobile Company, which is providing access to its nationwide telephone towers and 24-hour power supply to ensure uninterrupted broadcasting across Sierra Leone.

The launch event was led by Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, and attended by senior government officials, representatives of IFAD, staff of the RFCIP, the Apex Bank, local authorities, and hundreds of community members. Participants commended the initiative as a timely and strategic intervention to close the information gap between farmers and all stakeholders in the agricultural sector.

Currently, IFAD is financing three major agricultural projects in Sierra Leon and they include: the Rural Finance and Community Improvement Programme (RFCIP), the Agriculture Value Chain Development Project (AVDP), and the Livestock and Livelihoods Development Project (LLDP), all aimed at strengthening rural transformation and ensuring sustainable food systems across SierraLeone.

The General Manager for Rural Farmers Radio George Nyambe Williams whose sound stewardship was rewarded for leading the first Rural Farmers radio in Sierra Leone, could not hide his excitement for the accomplishment and therefore expressed deep gratitude to all and sundry for the convivial support in turning a dream into action. In his own words, “Special appreciation goes to the vision carriers and others who dared to dream of a voice for rural communities. The Rural Finance and Community Improvement Programme (RFCIP) for championing this initiative, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for embracing and owning it, IFAD for the visionary funding support, and Africell for powering the Radio that now connects farmers across our nation.”