The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation and the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone said they will host a National Seed Business Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone, to discuss how to develop solutions and advocate investments in the agricultural sector.
Atayi-Babs Opaluwah, TAAT’s Communications Lead, disclosed in a statement that the summit, with the theme, ‘Building a roadmap for seed sector transformation’, seeks to push Sierra Leone towards an economically sustainable rice, cassava, maize and soybean seed system.
According to the statement, speakers at the summit include the Sierra Leonean Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Henry Kpaka; IITA’s Director, Partnerships for Delivery, Alfred Dixon; Director-General, Africa Rice Centre, Baboucarr Manneh; and Director, Agriculture and Agro-industry at the African Development Bank, Dr Martin Fregene, among others.
In his own remarks, the Head of TAAT’s Clearinghouse, Solomon Gizaw, said, “This seed summit will bring together policymakers, international financial institutions and policymakers, scientists, the private sector and farmer organisations for a roundtable discussion to broker investments for Sierra Leonean agricultural transformation with quality inputs, particularly seed as a primary entry point.”
