Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister Launches Locally Produced ECO Rice

February 11, 2025

Professor David J. Francis, Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, has ventured into rice farming, with his first harvest of locally produced ECO Rice set to reach markets across the country soon.

His involvement in agriculture aligns with President Maada Bio’s call for government officials to support farming as a strategy to boost the nation’s economy and reduce reliance on imported food.

A spokesperson revealed that the Chief Minister cultivated hundreds of hectares of rice in Bo Chiefdom, Kenema District. “The harvest is complete, and the rice has been packaged as ECO Rice. It will be available for purchase soon,” the spokesperson stated.

Mohammed Kabba, a social commentator, praised the initiative, describing it as a step toward economic diversification. He expressed hope that more elites would follow suit, strengthening the country’s food security.

“Sierra Leone must produce what it consumes. Dependence on imports weakens the economy, and agriculture is the key to sustainable growth,” Kabba emphasized.