By Ishmail Saidu Kanu
Pee Cee Holdings (PCH), one of Sierra Leone’s leading importers and distributors of fast-moving consumer goods, is taking a major step toward ending the country’s dependence on imported onions through its large-scale agricultural venture in Port Loko District.
Through its subsidiary, Pee Cee Agriculture, the company has developed a fully mechanized and irrigated onion farm spanning 646 hectares in Lungi.
The project was co-developed with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) after PCH sought to strengthen its supply chain and reduce import dependency.
After more than three years of joint planning, Pee Cee Agriculture secured US$12 million in financing from IFC, structured as a 50/50 blend of an A-loan and an IDA Private Sector Window loan.
The funds will support major capital investments, including modern machinery and large-capacity storage facilities.
The farming venture has already delivered impressive results. Between 2023 and 2024, the company recorded yields of 45 tonnes of onions per hectare, a tenfold increase from its earlier production attempts.
Pee Cee Agriculture has also created 60 full-time jobs and engages around 150 contract workers during harvest seasons.
When fully operational, the mega farm is expected to produce over 40,000 tonnes of onions annually, enough to meet Sierra Leone’s total domestic demand.
The company’s locally grown onions are already selling at significantly lower prices than imported varieties, increasing affordability for consumers and reducing foreign exchange losses.
The project is mentioned in the Sierra Leone Economic Update 2025, prepared by the World Bank’s Economic Policy and Development Economics teams, as a model of successful private sector–led agricultural transformation.
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