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From rice to wheat: Sierra Leone breaks new ground as TAAT, partners launch historic wheat demonstration – EnviroNews
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A new chapter in Sierra Leone’s agricultural transformation began on Wedesday, October 28, 2026, in Kabala, northern Sierra Leone, as the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme and its national and international partners flagged off land preparation for the country’s first wheat demonstration trial.
For a country determined to strengthen its food systems and expand domestic agricultural production, the initiative represents more than the introduction of a new crop. It is an opportunity to explore how science, innovation, strategic partnerships, and improved agricultural technologies can unlock new possibilities for food production.
The initiative, led by TAAT, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI), Sierra Leone Seed Certification Agency (SLeSCA), and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), will introduce two improved heat-tolerant wheat varieties, Imam and Borlaug 100, for demonstration under Sierra Leonean growing conditions.
Both varieties have a yield potential of 6-7 tonnes per hectare under suitable agronomic and environmental conditions, offering a promising starting point for evaluating wheat production opportunities in the country.
A New Crop, A New Opportunity
In Kabala, today’s commencement of land preparation signals the beginning of a potentially transformative agricultural journey.
While the initiative is still at the demonstration stage, its significance lies in testing whether improved wheat technologies can be successfully adapted to local production environments.
Through the deployment of heat-tolerant wheat varieties, TAAT and its partners aim to generate practical evidence that can inform future decisions on wheat cultivation, seed systems development, agricultural diversification, and national food security.
Dr Solomon Gizaw, Head TAAT Clearinghouse, said: “Todays demonstration also reflects TAAT’s broader commitment to accelerating African food systems transformation by facilitating access to proven agricultural technologies and strengthening collaboration between research institutions, governments, and other agricultural stakeholders.”
Advancing President Bio’s Feed Salone Agenda
Welcoming the initiative, Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Isata Kamanda, described the introduction of wheat demonstration trials as a credible pathway towards deepening food systems resilience, in alignment with the President’s Feed Salone Agenda.
The initiative complements Sierra Leone’s efforts to explore opportunities for expanding domestic food production and strengthening the country’s capacity to respond to emerging agricultural and food security challenges.
Beyond testing the adaptability of wheat varieties, the demonstration could provide valuable scientific and agronomic information to guide longer-term agricultural planning.
Bringing African Agricultural Expertise to Sierra Leone
The TAAT technical delegation is led by Dr. Oluwatoyin Adetunji, TAAT Value Chain Specialist and Country Engagement Officer for Anglophone West Africa.
The delegation also includes Dr. Oluwasina Olabanji, former Director-General of Nigeria’s Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI); Dr. Zakari Turaki; and Mr. Usman Fusami, both of LCRI, working alongside a team of researchers from SLARI.
The collaboration brings together regional wheat research expertise and national agricultural institutions to support the introduction, evaluation, and demonstration of improved wheat technologies.
It also highlights the importance of South–South cooperation and African-led solutions in addressing the continent’s agricultural challenges.
From Kabala to Rokupr: Taking the Demonstration Forward
Following the commencement of land preparation in Kabala on October 28, the technical team is scheduled to move to Rokupr in northern Sierra Leone on October 29 for further land preparation and planting of the two improved wheat varieties.
The demonstration activities at the two locations will provide an opportunity to evaluate the varieties under local conditions and generate evidence on their suitability for future wheat production initiatives.
The participation of SLARI and SLeSCA will be particularly important in connecting agricultural research with national seed-sector expertise as the initiative progresses.
Planting the Seeds of Tomorrow
The journey from an experimental demonstration to an established agricultural value chain requires research, investment, appropriate seed systems, farmer participation, and sustained institutional commitment.
For Sierra Leone, this first wheat demonstration is therefore a starting point rather than a declaration of commercial production success.
Yet its potential significance is clear.
By bringing improved African agricultural technologies to Sierra Leone, TAAT and its partners are opening a new avenue for exploring agricultural diversification and building a more resilient national food system.
Today, the work begins with preparing the soil in Kabala. Tomorrow, the next phase moves to Rokupr.
And with each step, Sierra Leone moves closer to answering an important question: Could locally adapted wheat become another valuable component of the country’s agricultural future?
