Rashid A. Conteh, CEO of Agro-Based Industries and Services (Sierra Bo Garri)

Transforming the Cassava Value Chain: Rashid Conteh’s Garri and Acheke Enterprise

Cassava is Sierra Leone’s second staple food after rice — a crop that sustains families, creates jobs, and drives rural livelihoods. Yet much of its potential has remained untapped, with limited processing and few opportunities for farmers to add value.

Through the ILO’s Opportunity Salone Project, that is changing. Local entrepreneurs are industrializing cassava production, improving quality, and creating markets that benefit entire communities. One of them is Rashid A. Conteh, founder and CEO of Agro-Based Industries and Services, better known as Sierra Bo Garri.

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Meet Rashid A. Conteh

Rashid A. Conteh, CEO of Agro-Based Industries and Services, widely known as Sierra Bo Garri, is based in Bo City, with his Razpec Cassava Farm in Ngalu, all within Bo District. Rashid’s journey into agriculture began when he served as Secretary General for the Sierra Leone Importers Association. Witnessing the high costs of food and commodity imports, he became determined to reduce food insecurity and create a model for agricultural processing. Today, his business transforms cassava into garri and acheke, sourcing 70 percent from his own nucleus farm and 30 percent from out growers across Bo District. This approach secures supply while providing income opportunities for smallholder farmers.

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Ensuring Quality from Farm to Market

At Sierra Bo Garri, cassava undergoes a precise and systematic process: exact measurements, peeling (manual and mechanical), washing, grating, hydraulic pressing, cake breaking and sieving, roasting (manual and mechanical), final sieving and nutrient balancing, and packaging for markets across Sierra Leone. This ensures consistent quality and consumer safety.

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Building, Growing, and Connecting

Like many entrepreneurs, Rashid initially faced challenges including limited water and electricity, lack of machines, 200 hectares of land, and a small workforce. Joining the ILO Opportunity Salone Project changed everything. Financial support enabled him to purchase modern equipment such as freezers, dryers, steamers, and regulators, improve packaging, expand his workforce to 28 full-time staff, 12 part-time staff, 6 farm workers, and 11 acheke processors including one person with a disability and grow his farm to 250 hectares. Sierra Bo Garri became the first enterprise to industrialize acheke processing in Sierra Leone, bringing innovation to the sector.

Expanding SME Market Links

Today, Sierra Bo Garri supplies Choithram Supermarket and Zain Supermarket weekly, as well as street vendors and individual buyers directly from the factory. Every day, the enterprise processes 10 to 15 tons of cassava, producing 5 tons of garri and 2 tons of acheke monthly. Rashid also collaborates with other SMEs, supplying starch to Green Charcoal Energy Briquette for eco-friendly charcoal production. These partnerships strengthen the local agricultural ecosystem

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Driving Growth, Giving Back

Rashid employs over 30 women across the cassava value chain, from production to processing. His vision emphasizes transforming lives, creating opportunities, and giving back to Sierra Leone while addressing food insecurity.

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“Transforming people’s lives, creating opportunities, and giving back to Sierra Leone while addressing food insecurity makes me feel proud and deeply fulfilled. ” Rashid A. Conteh, CEO of Agro-Based Industries and Services

Shaping Change

Rashid’s journey shows how innovation, partnerships, and community-centered agriculture can strengthen the cassava value chain, increase jobs and incomes, and move Sierra Leone closer to food security and sustainable development.

By the Numbers

• Production: 10–15 tons cassava/day → 5 tons garri, 2 tons acheke/month

• Jobs: Expanded to 28 full-time, 12 part-time, 6 farm workers, 11 acheke processors (including 1 PWD)

• Support received: ILO financial and technical support, modern machinery

• Markets: Local, Freetown (Choithram, Zain Supermarket), street vendors, direct buyers

• Linkages: Supplies Green Charcoal Energy Briquette