Rokel Commercial Bank MD Boosts Eastern Farmers

By: Aruna Dumbuya

The Managing Director of Rokel Commercial Bank (RCBank), Dr. Ekundayo Walton Gilpin, has reaffirmed the bank’s strong commitment to Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector. Speaking at the commissioning of the Eastern Farmers Poultry Feed Mill Plant on March 12, 2025, in Samuel Town, Matindi Benguema, Waterloo, he underscored RCBank’s role in driving food security and self-sufficiency in livestock farming. Accompanied by key members of his team, Dr. Gilpin emphasized the bank’s dedication to empowering farmers, advancing financial inclusion, and fostering rural economic growth. He reiterated RCBank’s alignment with the government’s Feed Salone initiative, which seeks to enhance local agricultural productivity. The initiative received widespread commendation from the CEO of the Eastern Farmers Poultry Association and the Ministry of Agriculture. Minister of Agriculture Prince Henry Kpaka praised the project, stressing the urgent need to reduce Sierra Leone’s dependence on imported poultry products. “We have no business importing poultry products when we have the capacity to produce them locally. The government currently spends between $15 and $20 million annually on poultry imports,” Minister Kpaka noted. He added that the new feed mill directly supports the Feed Salone agenda, calling on the private sector to play a greater role in agricultural development. Eastern Farmers Poultry Association (EFAGE) Chairman, Sahr Jusu, highlighted the growing need for strategic investments in poultry feed production, recognizing its critical role in industry sustainability. “By 2024, it became evident that the sector required a reliable supply of high-quality feed to sustain growth,” Jusu stated. To address this gap, EFAGE partnered with Trouw Nutrition, a Netherlands-based subsidiary of Nutreco with 125 years of expertise in animal nutrition. The newly constructed feed mill is expected to transform poultry farming in eastern Sierra Leone by reducing reliance on costly imports and strengthening the local supply chain. The new facility is poised to: Enhance food security by ensuring a steady supply of affordable poultry feed. Create employment opportunities across the production and distribution sectors. Boost the livestock industry, making poultry farming more profitable for local farmers. As part of its broader commitment to rural development, RCBank launched its Agency Banking initiative in December 2023. This program expands financial access to underserved communities, enabling farmers to manage their finances more effectively through a network of banking agents. With the establishment of the feed mill, young farmers in eastern Sierra Leone now have an opportunity to produce high-quality animal feed using 100% locally sourced ingredients. Through continued investment in agriculture, financial inclusion, and rural development, RCBank remains a key driver of economic transformation in Sierra Leone.