Rice Yield Survey Report Workshop with the Planning, Evaluation, Monitoring and Statistics Division (PEMSD) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Partners.

On July 9th, 2020, the Planning, Evaluation, Monitoring and Statistics Division (PEMSD) of the Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry (MAF) and partners were involved in a workshop to validate the 2019/2020 Rice Yield Survey report, concluding the annual rice yield study conducted in Sierra Leone’s 15 agricultural Districts. The purpose of the rice yield survey is to obtain information on seeded and harvested crop areas for the upland, Inland Valley Swamp (IVS), boli, mangrove, and riverine ecologies, average yields, production, and on-farm stocks at strategic times over the course of the rice crop cycle. Estimates are based on producer calculated yields reported by 900 rice farming households in 15 districts. The study shows the general average rice yield per hectare is 1.87 metric tonnes, an increase from 1.75 metric tonnes (2018), and 1.68 metric tonnes (2016).). The average rice yield recorded for the upland ecology is estimated at 1.2 t/ha., IVS ecology is estimated at 2.0 t/ha, for Boli ecology is 1.8 t/ha, Mangroves ecology is estimated at 2.5 t/ha., and Riverine ecology is 1.8 t/ha. The study also shows that significantly higher yields are observed in rice farms that are in Tonkolili (2.12 t/ha), Kambia (2.10 t/ha), and Bo (2.05 t/ha) Districts. Lowest rice yield per hectare was observed in Kailahun (1.33 t/ha), Port Loko (1.44 t/ha), and Bombali (1.44 t/ha) Districts. This activity is funded by the European Union, through the Boosting Agriculture and Food Security (BAFS) project, and seen as a critical step required to compute national production data relevant for policy formulation and decision making in the agriculture sector. Copies of the report can be obtained from the BAFS Project Coordinating Unit or PEMSD – MAF