The Sierra Leone Seed Certification Agency (SLeSCA) has successfully concluded a three-day training on rice field inspection protocols and the seed certification process in Moyamba from 20 to 22 February 2025.

The event brought together a total of 50 participants from across the country, including field technicians, seed growers, and seed vendors.

With one field technician assigned to each district in Sierra Leone, SLeSCA is working to create a robust network of qualified personnel capable of ensuring the quality of seeds throughout the nation, to equip them with critical knowledge and hands-on experience in seed certification.

The training was sponsored by Action Against Hunger with a focus on enhancing participants’ understanding of the rice seed certification process and improving the quality of rice seeds distributed to farmers nationwide.

The Executive Director of SLeSCA, Dr Robert Chakanda, in his opening remarks, emphasised the importance of quality seeds in the fight against hunger in Sierra Leone.

“Every agricultural activity is based on the quality of seeds,” Dr. Chakanda noted while assuring the agency’s commitment to the delivery and accessibility of high-quality seeds to farmers.

Over the three days, the participants engaged in both theoretical lessons and practical exercises, from lessons on the fundamentals of seed certification to introductions to seed classes such as breeder, foundation, and certified seed, as well as an overview of the legal framework and seed certification procedures.

The training manual captures topics on inspections of seeds during the vegetative and flowering stages and practical field visits to identify weeds, off-types, pests, and diseases. Participants were exposed to techniques, including how to perform pre-harvest inspections and sampling to ensure seeds meet necessary quality standards before harvest.

A special session on digital data collection tools was included, which was focused on how participants can submit their field reports online. Also of importance was when the training was shifted to post-harvest processing, which includes seed threshing, drying, and cleaning techniques.

Dr. Chakanda reaffirmed the significance of such training in strengthening the seed certification system in Sierra Leone and its role in ensuring that farmers receive high-quality seeds for successful crop production.

“We are in Moyamba to train all the key players in the seed production chain—seed growers, vendors, and field staff. Our responsibility is to make sure that seeds are of the highest quality, and that starts with effective inspection and certification,” Dr Chakanda assured.

The event concluded with a certification ceremony where participants received certificates in recognition of their successful completion of the training.