Kenema Forestry and Tree Crops Research Centre
slariKenema Forestry and Tree Crops Research Centre (KFTCRC) focuses on the value chains of tree crops suited to various agro-ecological zones, specifically targeting cocoa, coffee, cashew, oil palm, and fruit crops.
The main areas of focus include the following value chains:
- Development and promotion of the cocoa product value chain.
- Development and promotion of the coffee value chain.
- Development and promotion of the oil palm product value chain.
- Development and promotion of the cashew product value chain.
- Development and promotion of the citrus product value chain.
- Development and promotion of the avocado product value chain.
- Development and promotion of the banana product value chain.
Coming Soon
OBJECTIVE
To generate and promote innovative technologies for tree crops (cocoa, coffee, cashew, oil palm and fruit crops) value chains.
Background
The Kenema Forestry and Tree Crops Research Centre (KFTCRC) was established by an act of parliament in 2007. After the tree crop division of the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI) was institutionalized, the centre began its operations in 2009, with its office located at the Integrated Agricultural Development (IDA) in Kenema, serving as the regional office for the eastern region.
The centre oversees three satellite stations: Pendembu, Kpuwabu, and Bambawo. During the early 1960s, the Kpuwabu station served as a training centre for smallholder cocoa and coffee farmers as part of the IDA Project. Similarly, Pendembu was established around the same time to develop improved planting materials for cocoa and coffee. In contrast, Bambawo station was initially a college dedicated to training foresters and environmental technicians after the closure of the Bambawo chromite mining operation.
Following the closure of both the IDA and the chromite mining sites at Bambawo, these stations were managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) until the onset of the rebel conflict, which led to an eleven-year of disruption. Unfortunately, during this period, the efforts to develop cocoa and coffee planting materials were severely hindered. Many valuable tags containing important information about the clones were lost, resulting in the gardens being neglected and falling into a state of disrepair until SLARI was established in 2007.
Mandate
The KFTCRC is responsible for coordinating and implementing research programmes in the fields of cocoa, coffee, cashew, oil palm, and tree crops.
MAJOR TRANSFORMATION
The KFTCRC, as one of the constituent centres of SLARI, has experienced some transformation over the years, outlined as follows:
- In 2009, the centre operated from an office located under a mango tree near the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for nearly six months. Eventually, the centre was provided with a two-room office and a storage space. Due to the lack of adequate office facilities, research scientists associated with KFTCRC were assigned to satellite stations based on their areas of expertise. For example, crop scientists were stationed in either Pendembu or Kpuwabu, while foresters were assigned to Bambawo. Consequently, the director and support staff remained in the Kenema office as the primary administrators. Although staff are still assigned to these satellite stations, they often have difficulty spending significant time there due to the poor conditions of the staff quarters.
- In 2014, KFTCRC successfully acquired land within the compound of the Ministry of Agriculture, allowing for the construction of a larger office complex. However, the plans were adjusted to create a reasonably sized facility, which is now the centre’s regional office.
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT AT THE STATION
The Pendembu station features an administrative complex that includes four staff quarters, constructed by the Rural and Private Sector Development Project (RPSDP) in 2011. Additionally, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) contributed to the station by completing further developments in 2012. In 2021, the Smallholder Commercialization and Agribusiness Development Project (SCADeP) built a multipurpose farm building and drying floor on the site. The SCADeP also renovated the conference hall and laboratory at Pendembu in 2022. Furthermore, in 2020, the Boosting Agriculture and Food Security initiative installed a solar electrification system at Pendembu.
