Find Agriculture expertise in Sierra Leone

Industry

Agriculture, forestry and fisheries are major industries in Sierra Leone which contribute 59% of GDP (2010) and account for 47.7% of land use. Nearly half of the working-age population survives on subsistence agriculture.  The main agricultural products are rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts, poultry, cattle, sheep, pig and fish. The principal agricultural exports are cocoa, coffee and fish and the main partners are Belgium, France, Netherlands and the US. The Ministry Of Agriculture and Food Security is responsible for food security and reducing poverty and environmental degradation through sustainable management of resources in agriculture and forestry.

Development 

The World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report (2012-2013) ranks Sierra Leone 57th out of 144 countries in relation to agricultural policy costs with a score of 4.0 out of 7, above the world mean. The government has identified the sector as a key area of economic growth, security and poverty reduction in the country. It aims to improve industry infrastructure, in particular storage facilities, rural credit, research and seed supplies. Small and medium producers will also benefit from developments with regards to improving access to markets and processing facilities. In addition, Sierra Leone signed up to the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) which will aid in improving agribusiness and agricultural infrastructure as well as increasing the budget allowance for agriculture. In partnership with the National Sustainable Agriculture Development Programme (NSADP) CAADP outlined four major investment programmes, namely the Commodity Commercialisation Sub-Programme, the Private Sector Promotion Sub-Programme and the Sector Coordination and Management Sub-Programme.

It was announced in 2012 that Sierra Leone would receive a large investment to develop the agricultural sector in the country both in terms of production and marketing of agricultural produce. The projects that this money will support focus particularly on generating increased harvests of rice and cassava and are managed by the West Africa Agricultural Programme (WAPP).