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Pee Cee & Sons Secures $12 Million International Funding to Develop Onion Farm in Sierra Leone


The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has committed $12 million to support the development of Sierra Leone’s first commercial-scale onion farming operation, in partnership with Pee Cee Holding Ltd. (PCH).

The investment is expected to transform the country’s agricultural landscape, boost local food production, and reduce dependence on imported onions.

The funding will go to Pee Cee Agriculture (PCA), the agribusiness subsidiary of PCH, to establish a fully irrigated and mechanized 500-hectare farm. The facility will produce over 40,000 tons of onions annually, alongside other essential crops such as maize and potatoes. Designed to operate year-round, the project integrates precision irrigation technology, modern machinery, and advanced storage systems to reduce post-harvest losses and enhance supply chain efficiency.



“This investment is a game-changer for Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector,” said Mahesh Nandwani, CEO of PCH. “With IFC’s support, we are proving that high-quality, large-scale food production is achievable within the country—building a model for food security, job creation, and long-term sustainability.”

The project comes at a critical time for Sierra Leone, where the majority of onions and several key staples are still imported. By strengthening domestic production, the initiative aims to make food more accessible and affordable, while also offering employment and skills training opportunities, particularly for rural women.

Beyond funding, IFC has played a significant role in developing PCA’s model over the past four years. The partnership included technical advisory support to improve operational efficiency, environmental performance, and risk mitigation. Pilot programs led by IFC demonstrated dramatic improvements, with onion yields increasing tenfold compared to national averages.

“Investing in sustainable agriculture is essential for building economic resilience and reducing reliance on imports,” said Dahlia Khalifa, IFC Regional Director for Central Africa and Anglophone West Africa. “This partnership with PCH sets a new standard for commercial farming in Sierra Leone and across the region.”

PCH, which started as Pee Cee & Sons and has grown into one of Sierra Leone’s most prominent consumer goods companies, is leveraging its extensive distribution network to ensure local market access for the farm’s output. Through its subsidiaries, including Milla Group and Jolaks Manufacturing, PCH has already demonstrated its capacity for industrial innovation and market leadership.

This venture into agriculture represents a strategic expansion for the group, with a strong focus on climate-smart farming, food system resilience, and community impact. It also aligns with IFC’s broader goals of fostering inclusive private sector development across Africa.

With construction underway and a strong foundation already in place, the PCA project is expected to serve as a blueprint for future agri-investments in West Africa, delivering long-term value to farmers, consumers, and the wider economy.



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To Drastically Reduce Onion Importation in 2 Years… Agriculture Minister Examines Pee Cee & Sons Onion Cultivation Site in Port Loko District


In a recent announcement, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Henry Musa Kpaka, expressed his optimism about reducing onion imports to Sierra Leone in the coming years. Kpaka, who concluded his first full week in his role, visited the onion-rich region of Port Loko District and outlined plans to curtail the country’s dependency on imported onions within two and a half years.

The onion belt in Port Loko, boasting over 1,200 hectares of suitable lowland for onion cultivation, holds the key to this ambitious endeavour. The majority of onion cultivation in this area is carried out by smallholder farmers, who possess the necessary skills but face several challenges. Despite these obstacles, the potential benefits associated with the onion value chain are apparent to these farmers.

Minister Kpaka’s pivotal moment of conviction came during a visit to the Pee Cee and Sons Ltd (PCS) mechanized onion production site in Mathen village, Lokomasama Chiefdom. This site has demonstrated that Sierra Leone has the capability to significantly increase domestic onion production and thereby reduce the reliance on imports.



Pee Cee and Sons Ltd (PCS) conducted a pilot project covering 5.6 hectares of mechanized onion production last year, yielding 10 metric tons per hectare, which is below the estimated potential. However, with adjustments to soil pH, they anticipate achieving up to 30 metric tons per hectare.

Pee Cee and Sons Ltd (PCS) has strategically planned to cultivate 75 hectares during the October-December cycle and again in the February-May 2024 cycle. If these plans are executed successfully, an additional 4,500 metric tons of onions could be introduced to the market within the two cycles. To provide context, official trade data indicates that Sierra Leone imported slightly under 1,000 metric tons of onions in the entirety of 2022.

In a noteworthy initiative, Pee Cee and Sons Ltd (PCS) supported 900 smallholder farmers last year by providing inputs, mechanized plowing services, and training in sound agronomic practices for onion cultivation. The future prospects are even brighter, as Pee Cee and Sons Ltd (PCS) aims to dedicate nearly 640 hectares to onion cultivation within the next three years. These promising statistics are indicative of a potential path for Sierra Leone to transition from an onion importer to a net-exporter.

President Bio’s Feed Salone Programme, known for its strategic integration of the private sector to drive agricultural transformation, plays a significant role in this endeavour. The Government is dedicated to supporting private sector actors such as Pee Cee and Sons Ltd (PCS), recognizing that their success contributes to the overall prosperity of the nation.

As Sierra Leone sets its sights on self-sufficiency in onion production, Minister Kpaka’s enthusiasm and the progressive efforts of entities like Pee Cee and Sons Ltd (PCS) provide hope that the nation’s reliance on imported onions could be dramatically reduced within the next two years.



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Onion Shortage Prompts Cucumber Use as Alternative in Food Preparation


With the country facing a severe onion shortage, a trader at Dove-cut market has highlighted the distressing practice of food sellers resorting to cucumber as a substitute for onion in their dishes.

The trader explained that the exorbitant increase in onion prices has forced many food sellers, particularly those preparing stew, to turn to cucumber and cabbage, as they can no longer afford the steep costs associated with purchasing onions in the required quantities.

Amidst this crisis, the trader has made a fervent appeal to the government, urging them to devise effective strategies for domestic food production in Sierra Leone. Additionally, she called upon fellow Sierra Leoneans to embrace farming, aiming to reduce the nation’s reliance on imported staple foods.



Numerous concerns have also been voiced by other women, highlighting how the escalating onion prices are significantly impacting the livelihoods of many families.

In particular, the rising costs have made it challenging for most families to cook meals they once enjoyed, such as Stew, Boil Soup, Groundnut Soup, and more, as these recipes heavily depend on a substantial amount of onions for flavor and richness.



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