Makeni, Sierra Leone | October 30, 2026
The University of Makeni (UNIMAK), in collaboration with Social Business Development (SBD), hosted the 3rd National Poultry Day on October 30, 2026, at the UNIMAK Auditorium in Makeni. The event brought together religious leaders, academic authorities, government officials, local poultry farmers, and international development partners to discuss the growth and sustainability of Sierra Leone’s poultry industry.
The event was officially opened by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Makeni, Bishop Bob John Hassan Koroma, while UNIMAK Vice Chancellor, Professor Joseph Turay, welcomed participants and highlighted the importance of strengthening partnerships between higher education institutions, government, and the private sector.
Discussions focused on the critical role of poultry production in creating employment, empowering rural communities, strengthening food security, and promoting university-led agricultural research. Participants also explored strategies for expanding local production capacity and reducing the country’s dependence on imported eggs.
Speaking at the event, SBD Chief Executive Officer Francesco Zanchi highlighted the progress made in developing Sierra Leone’s poultry sector and reaffirmed SBD’s commitment to supporting local production in preparation for the country’s 2029 zero-egg-import target.
Representatives from the International Labour Organization (ILO), the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), and the European Union also participated, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in building a resilient and competitive domestic poultry industry.
Representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance reaffirmed the government’s commitment to achieving zero egg imports by 2029, in line with its broader agricultural transformation agenda.
Professor Abdullai Jalloh, representing the government, commended UNIMAK and SBD for their contributions to the government’s Feed Salone initiative, which seeks to strengthen domestic food production, improve food security, and promote agricultural development.
A representative of the Ministry of Finance outlined fiscal measures designed to support agricultural investment and local production. These included a five-year duty-free waiver on imported agricultural equipment and a 35% tariff intended to protect domestic livestock production and encourage the growth of local enterprises.
These measures were presented as part of broader efforts to create an enabling environment for farmers, investors, and agribusinesses to expand production and contribute to national economic development.
International development partners welcomed the collaboration among local farmers, higher education institutions, government agencies, and private-sector organizations. They reaffirmed the importance of continued investment in capacity building, poultry feed supply chains, veterinary services, and technical expertise.
The discussions highlighted the need for coordinated action to address challenges facing poultry farmers, improve production efficiency, and establish a sustainable value chain capable of meeting domestic demand.
For the University of Makeni, hosting the National Poultry Day reflects the institution’s commitment to supporting national development through research, knowledge sharing, innovation, and partnerships that connect academic expertise with practical solutions to Sierra Leone’s development challenges.
The 3rd National Poultry Day reinforced the shared commitment of government, development partners, academic institutions, and private-sector stakeholders to building a stronger and more self-sufficient poultry industry.
With the 2029 zero-egg-import target approaching, sustained investment in local production, agricultural technology, veterinary services, and farmer capacity development will be essential to achieving this ambition.
Through its collaboration with SBD and other stakeholders, the University of Makeni continues to contribute to national conversations and initiatives aimed at strengthening agriculture, creating employment, and advancing Sierra Leone’s Feed Salone agenda.
