By George M.O Williams
Lungi, Port Loko District – April 7, 2025: In a major stride toward enhancing food security and agricultural self-sufficiency in Sierra Leone, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has signed a landmark investment agreement with Pee Cee Holding Ltd (PCH), one of the country’s leading agribusiness and consumer goods companies.
The agreement, announced yesterday during a ceremony at Pee Cee Agriculture Farm in Lokomasama Chiefdom, Port Loko District, will support the launch of Sierra Leone’s first large-scale, irrigated, and mechanized farming project. The initiative is expected to drastically reduce the country’s reliance on imported onions and scale up the production of key staple crops such as maize and potatoes.
The IFC is committing a US$12 million loan to Pee Cee Agriculture, the agribusiness arm of PCH, for the development of a 500-hectare commercial farm equipped with advanced precision irrigation, modern mechanization, and state-of-the-art storage facilities.
Once operational, the farm is projected to produce over 40,000 tons of onions annually, alongside substantial yields of maize and other crops. The investment aims to lay the groundwork for a climate-resilient and self-sufficient agricultural ecosystem in Sierra Leone.
IFC Regional Director for Central Africa and Anglophone West Africa, Madam Dahlia Khalifa, lauded the partnership as a model for sustainable agriculture on the continent.
“This is more than a farm,” she said. “It is a beacon of innovation, resilience, and impact. With the support of the government, landowners, and local communities, this project has the potential to eliminate Sierra Leone’s dependency on onion imports and even become an export hub in the future.”
Speaking at the ceremony, Ms. Ekta Nandwani, Deputy CEO of Pee Cee Holding, expressed appreciation for the IFC’s support and reiterated her father and CEO, Mr. Mahesh Nandwani’s long-standing vision for agricultural transformation in the country.
“From importing consumer goods to cultivating our own produce, our journey has been extraordinary,” Ms. Nandwani said. “This farm is not just an investment in agriculture; it is an investment in Sierra Leone’s future. Our aim is to reduce reliance on imported onions, support the poultry sector through maize production, and create a sustainable value chain that empowers local communities—especially rural women.”
She added that the company had benefited from IFC’s advisory services over the past four years, leading to a tenfold increase in onion yields during pilot phases.
The Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Henry Musa Kpaka, also praised the project, highlighting its alignment with the national “Feed Salone” strategy. Reflecting on an onion shortage crisis two years ago, the Minister noted Pee Cee Holding’s transition from Sierra Leone’s largest importer of onions to a leading local producer.
“Today, thanks to this partnership and technical support from IFC… we’re already seeing onions produced locally at a price even cheaper than imported ones,” he said. “That is the kind of transformation Sierra Leone needs.”
The company’s vertically integrated system—from farm to fork—includes storage and retail centers throughout Sierra Leone and outlets in Liberia and Guinea. This network is expected to streamline logistics, reduce post-harvest losses, and stabilize food prices both locally and regionally.
Pee Cee Agriculture is also collaborating with Njala University and the Ministry of Agriculture on research, capacity building, and farmer training.
Plans are underway to connect smallholder farmers through contract farming models and provide technical support, reinforcing national food sovereignty goals.
The first phase of an on-site processing facility is scheduled for completion before the next harvest season. Future plans include expanding crop production, exploring export markets, and replicating the model across other regions of Sierra Leone and West Africa.