by Andrew Johnny, Statistician General, Statistics Sierra Leone.

I am proud to highlight the remarkable strides we’ve made in strengthening Sierra Leone’s agricultural statistical system—making quality data truly accessible to everyone.

Under the 50×2030 Initiative to Close the Agricultural Data Gap, Statistics Sierra Leone, in close partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) and with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is transforming how we collect, analyze, and share agricultural data. These efforts are supported by the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank, through the Harmonizing and Improving Statistics in West Africa (HISWA) project.

Laying the Foundation for Agricultural Data Production

In early 2023, Sierra Leone embarked on a journey with the 50×2030 Initiative, aimed at establishing a sustainable, annual agricultural survey system—bridging long‑standing gaps and aligning data collection with our national development priorities.

Prior to joining 50×2030, Sierra Leone lacked a regular survey or census programme on agriculture. As part of the Initiative’s roadmap, we implemented the country’s first-ever Agriculture Household Listing Survey (SLLIST 2023). This listed over 520 enumeration areas and around 43 000 agricultural households, creating a robust sampling frame and coverage for all future surveys.

In this preparatory phase, FAO provided technical assistance in setting up all the aspects related to the preparation of the national agricultural survey. Through the Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics, FAO provided key capacity development activities related to developing leadership, methodological guidelines, survey tools, sampling frameworks, and Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) based systems, addressing important gaps in terms of skills and knowledge required to produce, process and use agricultural statistics. 

Under 50×2030, our national staff have received comprehensive training in the full survey process—from questionnaire design and implementation to technology use, data analysis, dissemination, and open-data principles.

This extensive capacity-building has paved the way for long-term sustainability: by investing in the strengthening of national skills and knowledge, we have laid a strong foundation for continuous, high-quality data production—ensuring precision and consistency over time.

A New Era: The Annual Agricultural Surveys

In September and December 2023, we launched the first Annual Agricultural Survey (AAS 2023)—a two-phase effort covering both post-planting and post-harvest periods, marking Sierra Leone’s inaugural annual survey under international standards. Featuring the standard CORE module and the rotating module on Income, Labor & Productivity (ILP) module, the survey provided an essential leap forward in tracking key indicators such as crop and livestock production, farm income, and workforce dynamics.

The second survey round in 2024 introduced the Production, Methods & Environment (PME) module and was implemented building upon lessons learned in the previous round.

As we prepare for AAS 2025, we are trying to secure IDA funding for the data collection to be on track to conduct a total of 3 round annual surveys, integrating rotating modules to provide comprehensive and up-to-date agricultural statistics.

From Data Gaps to Data-Driven Decisions

Thanks to the efforts made with the implementation of the 50x2030 Initiative, Sierra Leone is making significant progress in scaling up the production, dissemination and use of agricultural statistics as a solid foundation for improved policy and decision making in the agricultural sector.

The release of microdata files, reports and open data tables from the AAS 2023 and SLLIST 2023, is a demonstration of our long-term commitment to data transparency and open access, unlocking public access to key insights on agricultural statistics and development indicators.

These datasets enabled the computation of Sustainable Development Goals 2.3.1 and 2.3.2, CAADP targets, and our national agricultural strategies like Feed Salone, a programme of the Ministry of Agriculture, aimed at boosting productivity, food security, and inclusive rural growth.

The 50x2030 Initiative has been a driver of digital transformation in our agricultural statistics system.

The project accelerated our adoption of digital tools—such as CAPI and GPS-based plot measurement—while building national capacity on the use of technology for more efficient and reliable survey implementation. By using GPS, we can now objectively measure field sizes rather than relying on farmer estimates, substantially boosting data precision. Integrating these technologies has delivered clear benefits: field operations have become faster and less costly, data entry and cleaning times are shorter, and the quality and reliability of our data have significantly improved.

Sierra Leone is proud to be one of the pilot countries integrating the Women’s Empowerment & Nutrition module into its national agricultural survey. In Sierra Leone, women are at the heart of our agricultural economy. Yet too often they lack resources, rights, and decision-making power. These are challenges that affect national economic growth, food security, and poverty reduction. Sierra Leone is setting a precedent: by embedding empowerment questionnaires in our national survey for the first time, we’re amplifying rural women’s voices in shaping their futures. Our challenge now is to turn these insights into action—ensuring evidence-based decisions that bring meaningful change to the lives of women across Sierra Leone.

In Closing

At Statistics Sierra Leone, we believe that quality agricultural statistics are the foundation of agrifood system transformation.

Through strategic partnerships, technological innovation, and a commitment to transparency, we are on the right path to bridging the agricultural data gap. We are proud to being part of this journey— making agricultural statistics available to everyone, and empowering decisions that shape our nation’s future.

Mr. Andrew Bob Johnny was appointed Statistician General of Statistics Sierra Leone in 2023. He is a career civil servant that has risen from the grassroot to the position of Statistician General. Sierra Leone was re-elected to the 24-member state statistical Commission of the United Nations by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) at the UN Headquarters in 2023. Mr. Johnny, who is the Statistician General, would be representing his country for a period of four years. He has also been elected as a Rapporteur for the 56th Commission at UNSD HQ in New York. He holds that position for the 2025/26 period.