FEED SALONE FLOPS…
PERFORMANCE AUDIT EXPOSES MASSIVE FAILURES
By: Gibrilla Kamara
The much-publicized “Feed Salone” initiative under President Julius Maada Bio’s administration has come under serious scrutiny following the release of a Performance Audit Report by the Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) in February 2025. Billed as a flagship program to achieve food self-sufficiency and stimulate agricultural growth, the audit reveals that the project has largely failed to deliver on its core promises, raising concerns about mismanagement, poor planning, and lack of transparency.
According to the audit, while the government claimed to be investing heavily in agriculture, including the distribution of farming equipment and inputs, many of these interventions were poorly coordinated and unsustainable. The report highlights serious deficiencies in planning, procurement, monitoring, and accountability mechanisms within the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS).
“Key components of the Feed Salone program are either underperforming or completely stalled due to weak institutional coordination, inadequate planning, and insufficient oversight,” the audit stated.
Equipment Distribution: A Misguided Intervention
One of the central criticisms in the audit relates to the distribution of tractors, tillers, and other agricultural machinery. These were deployed across agricultural districts without a comprehensive needs assessment or sustainability framework. Many of the tractors supplied have since broken down due to the lack of spare parts and maintenance plans, effectively rendering them obsolete.
Worse still, the procurement process lacked transparency and strategic foresight, as the Ministry failed to match equipment with the terrain and real agricultural needs of the targeted communities.
The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) unit, which was tasked with tracking the program’s progress, was found to be grossly under-resourced. The audit notes that the unit suffered from a shortage of vehicles, inadequate funding, and poor logistical support, making it impossible to supervise activities in real-time or make informed policy corrections.
Alarming National Food Security Indicators
The performance audit findings align with the 2023 World Bank report, which stated that 55% of Sierra Leone’s population suffer from insufficient food consumption, while 38% face severe constraints in accessing markets—a damning indictment of any claim of agricultural progress under the Bio administration.
Despite the government’s rhetoric, the audit shows that agricultural outputs remain stagnant, rural farmers continue to struggle without support, and market access for produce remains largely undeveloped.
Political Fallout and Public Backlash
In Parliament, opposition lawmakers were quick to react. During a heated debate in March 2025, Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara (Kambia District) lambasted the program, saying:
“Feed Salone has become a slogan with no substance. Our people are still going hungry. This initiative has failed, just like many others under this government.”
His colleague, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, echoed the sentiment, describing the agriculture sector as “non-functional,” and called on the Ministry to explain how millions of dollars in donor and public funds have been spent with no visible results.
On the streets, the discontent is palpable. Many citizens see “Feed Salone” as another false promise—a campaign slogan dressed up as policy. In rural districts where the impact was supposed to be most visible, farmers complain of being abandoned while elites in the capital thrive.
A Grand Promise, Now a National Disappointment
What was meant to be a transformative national initiative now appears to be another example of political propaganda outpacing actual policy delivery. The Audit Service’s 2025 Performance Report paints a clear picture: misguided priorities, failed planning, and gross inefficiency have crippled a program that once carried hopes of ending Sierra Leone’s dependency on food imports.
As inflation continues to bite and food insecurity grows, the “Feed Salone” initiative risks being remembered not as a solution, but as a symbol of failed governance—a costly illusion that never fed the nation.