IRENA & Others Conclude Workshop on Productive Use of Energy For Agri-Food Value Chains
By Sahr Ibrahim Komba
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and The Energy Nexus Network (TENN), in collaboration with the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF), have concluded a three-day Entrepreneurship Capacity Building Workshop on the Productive Use of Energy (PUE) for agri-food value chains in Sierra Leone.
Held from 10–12 February 2026 at the PI-CREF Secretariat, the workshop brought together 100 participants, 35 farmers, 35 entrepreneurs, and 30 policymakers from across the country. Organised under the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA), the initiative aimed to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem and accelerate decentralized renewable energy (DRE) solutions in agriculture.
Sessions focused on solar-powered irrigation, agro-processing, cold storage, energy efficiency, financing models, supply chains, and enabling policy frameworks. Participants engaged in expert presentations and role-specific group discussions.
Dr. Paul T. Yillia, Manager and Chief of Operations at TENN, said the workshop was designed to bridge the gap between energy access and economic productivity.
“We are bringing together energy providers and productive-use equipment vendors to examine business opportunities and challenges, particularly financing and market readiness,” he said.
Discussions explored financing options including development bank support, commercial loans, private capital, and mobile money systems. Dr. Yillia also highlighted supply chain delays sometimes up to 100 days for imported products and warned that rising global prices could offset government tax waivers on renewable energy equipment.
The first day focused on farmers, examining key value chains such as rice, cassava, poultry, livestock, and honey production to identify energy entry points and business opportunities.
Dr. Patrick Kormawa of PI-CREF underscored the initiative’s alignment with President Julius Maada Bio’s agenda linking renewable energy, climate action, and food security.
“When energy is not used productively, it is like shining energy on poverty,” he said, noting that although over 100 communities now have electricity, much of it is not tied to income-generating activities.
He stressed that integrating energy into agriculture would increase productivity, promote value addition, create jobs, and reduce import dependence. He encouraged entrepreneurs to move beyond simply “selling light” and instead provide solutions that power businesses and transform communities. Financing avenues such as equipment leasing, government programmes, and development partner support were also highlighted.
Francis Steven George, CEO of Innovation ASL, described the engagement as a major step in building a coordinated renewable energy ecosystem.
“If we don’t focus on productive use, energy will be wasted because people cannot pay for what they are not using to generate income,” he said, urging entrepreneurs to see themselves as solution providers driving national development.
Stakeholders also addressed sustainability concerns, emphasizing community ownership, stakeholder engagement, and local government involvement. Case studies including renewable-powered milling operations and cassava processing models demonstrated the economic viability of integrating energy into agro-processing.
Organisers say the initiative represents a strategic step toward aligning renewable energy expansion with agricultural transformation and rural economic growth. The key message: energy access alone is not enough productive use of energy is what drives lasting development.
