By Sylvester Samai
Food insecurity is a pressing issue in many parts of the world, and Sierra Leone is no exception. This West African country, rich in natural resources and cultural heritage, faces significant challenges in ensuring that all its citizens have reliable access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. Understanding the roots of food insecurity in Sierra Leone is crucial for developing effective solutions and policies to address this critical issue.
However, many people still believe that the present government has over the years written and promised a lot about feeding Sierra Leone. What remains clear is that these ideas and boastful promises have always remained in the conferences and big meetings held with little or nothing Sierra Leoneans can point to as a proof that the problem of food insecurity in the country is solvable. President Bio in his last manifesto made food sufficiency a priority (Feed Salone). But how does president Bio even plan to achieve this?
Sierra Leone still lacks the modern farming equipment to implement any large scale farming. The nation does not have adequate seedling nor does she have good storage facilities. Pest and diseases control poses another huge threat to the entire farming industry.
The scope of food insecurity in Sierra Leone is manifested in various forms, including chronic undernourishment, food shortages, and malnutrition. According to the 2023 Global Hunger Index, Sierra Leone is classified as having a “serious” level of hunger, with high rates of stunting and wasting among children under five years old. Approximately 60 per cent of the population suffers from food insecurity, and this figure is exacerbated by a combination of economic, environmental, and socio-political factors.
Sierra Leone has very vast productive farmlands that can be utilised to feed her citizenry. The lack of farming opportunities to adequately utilise these farmlands disables farmers from engaging in full time farming activities. Many farmers often leave farming for mining activities and timber logging, mostly in the provinces. Many others often leave their farming communities to urban settlements, thereby posing more problems on the little available food in these urban settlements.
Most of the farming communities are also deprived of good road facilities, for instance the widely talked-about Turma Bum Youth Farm does not even have a proper road network. It will take someone a whole hell to move from Sierra Leone’s capital (Freetown) to Turma Bum town, before you even start asking about the youth farm. Someone would ask what are we growing or harvesting from the said farm. What have we benefited from it? All we can show are the broken tractors and other scraped farming equipment that are permanently abandoned at the corners of Turma Bum township.
Sierra Leone’s Economy is heavily reliant on the agriculture sector, which contributes about 60 per cent to the GDP and employs 70 per cent of the population. However, the sector faces numerous challenges, including low productivity, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to modern farming techniques. Economic instability further exacerbates food insecurity by reducing people’s purchasing power and affecting their ability to access food.
The impact of environmental issues such as deforestation, soil erosion, and climate change has been severe. Erratic rainfall patterns and rising temperatures disrupt farming schedules and lead to crop failures. Sierra Leone is also prone to flooding, which damages farmlands and disrupts food production and distribution systems.
Although Sierra Leone has made strides towards political stability since the end of the civil war in 2002, challenges remain. Corruption, weak governance, and inadequate policy implementations hinder efforts to address food insecurity. The inefficiency of food aid distribution and the lack of effective agricultural policies contribute to the persistence of the problem.
High levels of poverty and low levels of education limit opportunities for many Sierra Leoneans. Poor health and low educational attainment can reduce agricultural productivity and limit the effectiveness of food security programmes. Additionally, diseases such as malaria and Ebola, which have affected Sierra Leone in recent years, strain the healthcare system and divert resources away from food security efforts.
Food insecurity has dire consequences for Sierra Leone’s population. Malnutrition among children leads to high rates of stunting and wasting, which can have long-term effects on cognitive development and future economic productivity. Adults suffering from food insecurity face poor health, reduced work capacity, and limited economic opportunities. The cycle of poverty and food insecurity perpetuates itself, making it difficult for affected families to escape their situation.
Several initiatives aimed at combatting food insecurity in Sierra Leone have been made. These include government-led programmes such as the National Sustainable Agriculture Development Plan (NSADP) and international efforts supported by organisations like the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF. These programmes focus on improving agricultural productivity, enhancing food distribution systems, and providing nutritional support to vulnerable populations.
Local NGOs and community-based organisations also play a crucial role by implementing grassroots projects that promote sustainable farming practices, improve food storage and preservation techniques, and raise awareness about nutrition. However, despite these efforts, the scale of the problem requires more comprehensive and coordinated action.
Addressing food insecurity in Sierra Leone requires a multi-faceted approach. Key strategies should include: Enhancing agricultural productivity, investing in modern agricultural techniques, improving irrigation systems, providing farmers with better seeds and tools can help increase food production, strengthening governance and policy implementation to ensure that food security policies are effectively implemented, building resilience to climate change, developing strategies to adapt to changing climate conditions such as improved weather forecasting and climate-smart agriculture, is crucial, improving education and healthcare, addressing broader socio-economic factors by enhancing educational opportunities and healthcare services can all support long-term food security.
Food insecurity in Sierra Leone is a complex issue that requires urgent attention from both national and international stakeholders. By addressing the root causes of food insecurity and implementing comprehensive and inclusive solutions, there is hope for a future where all Sierra Leoneans can enjoy reliable access to nutritious food. The path forward involves a concerted effort from the government, international community, farmers, and local organisations to build a resilient and sustainable food system for the country.
Addressing food insecurity is not just about alleviating immediate hunger but also about creating a foundation for future prosperity and well-being in Sierra Leone.