Strengthening the local pineapple sector with innovative strategies

With funding from the European Union, FMS, JULA, and Capitol formed a consortium to launch a project focused on increasing local pineapple production and strengthening the pineapple supply chain in Sierra Leone. Although agriculture plays a vital role in Sierra Leone's economy and society, the sector faces numerous challenges that also affect fruit production. With the project, Capital Foods aims to obtain a stable and continuous supply of high-quality pineapples at sufficient volumes to meet the local demand for pineapple juice. The project seeks to tackle issues such as low productivity and poor fruit quality which are often caused by a lack of knowledge on good farming practices, suitable varieties, and the effects of climate change, among other factors. Moreover, seasonality of pineapple production and inconsistent supply pose additional challenges to Capital Foods.  

Blockfarm – an innovative approach to professionalise pineapple production

In response to these pineapple supply challenges, a blockfarm is being set up to offer 250 farmers, including 40% youth and 25% women, the chance to enhance their skills and professionalize in pineapple cultivation. This blockfarm is combining the concentrated and efficient production systems of a plantation with the socially accepted smallholder farming. In other words, 50 hectares of land, leased by Capitol Foods, will be dedicated to pineapple production, commonly managed by smallholder farmers. After preparation of the land, each block farmer will be allocated a plot on the blockfarm and receive inputs and intense training and guidance from the blockfarm’s extension workers. The blockfarm model enables farmers to learn and refine agronomic techniques including those particularly suited for pineapple production, and achieve consistently higher yields and higher quality fruit. In return for their work on the blockfarm, farmers receive a monthly salary for preparing the land, followed by the sales of pineapples coming from their individual blockfarm plots. Furthermore, they gain valuable knowledge they can apply to their own farms, leading to improved food security and higher incomes. The controlled environment further enables better planning to overcome the issue of seasonality. With this approach, the project introduces a relatively novel concept in Sierra Leone that offers viable business opportunities for the different actors involved.

Scaling out!

In addition to the 250 'block farmers,' FairMatch Support aims to reach an additional 500 outgrowers through a tailor-made Digital Extension Tool (DET) adapted to local needs and capacities. The DET will enhance communication and collaboration between Capitol and the outgrower communities fostering peer learning, information sharing, and providing answers to support their agricultural practices, including the production of quality pineapples. Starting with 500 farmers, DET is expected to accelerate the dissemination of knowledge gained on the block farm, with the potential to benefit farmers nationwide. Beyond improving production, the tool will also connect supply chain actors, facilitating communication and coordination between buyers and suppliers. Consequently, the anticipated increase in fruit volumes will supply more ingredients for Capitol’s juice production and provide a sustainable value chain for the outgrowers —a win-win scenario.