Vickie Remoe Institute of Digital Communications

Maada Bio’s farm acquired by Agriterra for cocoa production in Sierra Leone

1
5199

 

Tropical Farms Limited Sierra Leone cocoa

Agriterra Limited a multinational food trading company has acquired 1208 hectares of farmland just outside Kenema for cocoa cultivation. The 50 year land lease is 100% owned by Tropical Farms Limited (TFL) a subsidiary Agriterra since July 2011. TFL is the cocoa and coffee company founded by former presidential aspirant Julius Maada Bio in 2008. Bio is TFL’s chief executive while Rupert Day is its current country manager.

Agriterra’s 2012 financials states that TFL now “has three main hub stores and 41 satellite stores with a direct buying register of more than 3,500 farmers across the country”.

There is no mention of Mr Bio’s involvement or ownership of TFL except for in his profile circulated during the elections.

So far, Agriterra reports that “a nursery of 1.6 hectares currently contains 250,000 seedlings in the germination process, which once matured, will be used to plant a 200 hectare area that is in the process of being cleared.” They have 160 workers from the surrounding communities.

Andrew Groves, Agriterra chief executive says, “Through TFL we have already established a successful cocoa trading business.  With this acquisition and investment we are now entering the second phase of our growth strategy focussed on developing our own plantations.

“Importantly, there is significant growth potential for our Sierra Leonean business which is already contributing at a Group level and complementing our expanding Mozambique beef operations.  We have an extremely strong treasury, having received an initial $28 million from the sale of our legacy oil asset, and I look forward to completing additional acquisitions of land and building shareholder value further.”

            Source: AGRITERRA 

1 comment

  1. Sqn Ldr Winston L T Forde RAF Ret'd 15 February, 2013 at 07:38 Reply

    Well done, and many congratulations for a local venture. If run properly it is bound to benefit the country providing income and employment, and no doubt profit. Let no man then focus on any prosperity arising therefrom as this is a legitimate enterprise. We need more of such activity in our country……by ourselves.

Leave a reply

Hey there,
Want some exclusive content straight to your email inbox? Sign up today and join our subscribers.
Hello there
Want some exclusive content straight to your email inbox? Sign up today and join our subscribers.