OVERVIEW OF PLANT PROTECTION IN SIERRA LEONE
The Sierra Leone Plant Protection Office (SLePPO) is within the Crops Division of the Ministry of
Agriculture. It has the following units with activities as follows: –
Phytosanitary – has phytosanitary inspectors at the country’s key designated Points of
Entries (POE’s) (Lungi Airport, Gbalamuya, Queen Elizabeth Quay, Jendema, Susan’s Bay,
Koidu). The inspectors ensure that international standards of phytosanitary measures
(ISPMs) developed by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) are adhere to for
all export and import products adhere to the national standards. Conducts inspection and
other phytosanitary activities at the POE’s.
Pest and Disease Control – promotes the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
strategies and pest surveillance to manage existing and pest outbreaks. There are District
Crop Protection Officers and operators in all the 15 Agricultural Districts.
Pesticide Management – is the secretariat of the National Pesticide Management
Committee which is in-charge of the pesticide registration using the West Africa Pesticide
Registration Committee (WAPRC) system and standards. Collaborates with other
institutions in the management of areas within the pesticide lifecycle. Sierra Leone is
signatory to the following conventions and organisations relating to pesticides international
pesticides laws/conventions like the Stockholm, Basel, Rotterdam conventions, Montreal
and the ECOWAS pesticides body.
ONGOING PROJECTS and RESEARCH work
- Bio Factory and Clonal Garden – this was established in 2020 at the Njala University, Njala Campus Moyamba with funding from EU through the Boosting Agriculture and Food Security (BAFS) Project.
Bio-pesticidal plants will be grown in the Clonal garden, harvested and taken to the bio pesticide factory for processing into bio pesticides used for controlling pests. In the bio factory also natural enemies like entomopathogens will be raised and introduced to farmer fields for the control of Fall Army Worms and other pests.
Bio-factory and Bio-pesticide factory at Njala Crop Protection Department, Moyamba
Observing the clonal garden for evidence of insect pests and diseases
Watering newly nursed seeds
Assessing the experimental site on the level of Fall Armyworm damage after treatment
Training on the use of the Plant Village – Nuru app in diagnosing pests on the farm
Students on research study tour in the bio factory were natural enemy is being rear for managing Fall Armyworm
- WAVE – Molecular Lab
WAVE PHD and MPhil students at the launch
Students and country coordinator being trained in Abidjan- WAVE headquarter laboratory on DNA extraction and analysis
- Fruit fly Project
The National project team meets with lecturers at the Crop Department at Njala University, Njala Campus
Launching of the Fruit fly Project and establishment of the national fruit fly committee in Sierra Leone by the Hon Abu Bakarr Karim
Training of farmers in the 7 piloted districts on management strategies of fruit fly
Some of the female exporters and the female NPPO team
Training if phytosanitary officers and Crop Protection officers on EU new regulation and standards
- Phytosanitary Inspection
Pest Surveillance – Surveillance System for fruit fly has been set up in seven (7) districts to determine the fruit fly population density and management strategies in Sierra Leone.
Pesticides legal documents– National pesticide policy and national pesticide list has been developed and validated awaiting enactment currently in progress
Pesticide and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy review- the national pesticide policy, pesticide list, training manual and IPM strategy were validated by various stakeholders in the pesticide value chain. Food and Agricultural Organisation supported these activities.
National Pesticide Management Committee (NPMC) –this was established and launched by Hon Abu Bakarr Karim, Minister of Agriculture and grace by the Deputy Minister. We had a team of experts from ECOWAS Dr Ernest Aubee and Dr Sylvian Ouedraogo who assisted the country in revitalizing the NPMC, the secretariat is hosted at the Ministry of Agriculture.
ECOWAS team meeting with the Hon Minister and the NPPO team
Establishment of the NPMC with all key stakeholders being involved
Awareness raising and training of exporters
Exporters and stakeholders in the export value chain were sensitize on international phytosanitary standards and measures. Training was done on meeting EU standards and their roles as exporters and stakeholders in complying to these standards. Vital information were elaborated on and decision taken on improving the phytosanitary sector.
Awareness raising and training of exporters and stakeholders on the phytosanitary standards