Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world, with Gross Domestic Product of only $548.00.  The civil war destroyed much of the economy.  About seventy-four percent of the population lives on less than $2.00 per day and twenty-six percent live in extreme poverty. 

 

The President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, has declared that agriculture is the country’s first priority economic sector.  This new policy is based on the analysis that agriculture is the most effective driver of economic growth in Sierra Leone capable of generating jobs, reducing poverty, and restoring hope.  Under the President’s new directive, the nation’s goal is to make the transition from small–holder farming to private sector lead commercial farming. 

 

The U.S. Government supports the high priority placed on agriculture.  In this regard,   USAID activities have more than doubled agricultural productivity of their beneficiaries.  USAID is using an integrated approach to agriculture, micro-enterprise, and natural resources management.  Our activities are increasing farmer’s access to food, boosting employment and income, and improving the management of natural resources.

 

 

 

 

 

AGRICULTURE

 

Seventy-five percent of Sierra Leone’s population reside in rural areas and are dependent on subsistence farming and associated agricultural enterprises.  Rice is the main crop grown by most small farmers.  Sierra Leone has 1.43 million hectares of arable land, of which only forty-eight percent is cultivated.  Farmers cultivate small parcels of land and have little access to agricultural inputs (e.g., fertilizer, and pesticides).  In addition, they have limited access to markets due to the poorly maintained transportation network.  Rural farmers are also poorly organized to share information on improved agricultural methods or opportunities to obtain financial credit.

 

In order to address the challenges described above, USAID is implementing a multi-sectoral activity entitled ‘Promoting Agriculture, Governance, and Environment’ (PAGE).  The activity will increase agricultural productivity and farmer incomes through the use of a market-based approach to agriculture.  PAGE will achieve its objective through the use of modernized agricultural and natural resource management interventions.  Using successful approaches from the past, PAGE will support existing Farmer Field Schools.  The Farmer Field Schools assist farmers to adopt improved agricultural methods, identify new opportunities (e.g., tree crops, value-added processing), and obtain access to financial credit.  

 

In order to establish the enabling policies necessary to implement PAGE activity interventions, USAID developed a new activity entitled ‘Creating an Enabling Environment in Sierra Leone’ (CEPESL).  CEPESL provides the necessary policies (e.g., policies, laws, procedures) that are required for PAGE interventions (e.g., agricultural production, co-forest management, extractive mining).

 

In the past, USAID supported grant activities such as value-added cassava processing and the provision of bicycles to improve the transport farm produce to the market.  The grant activities resulted in an increase in agricultural production and income generation.  In addition, the strengthened farmers associations are improving agricultural services and access to agricultural inputs.  Youth and women in particular benefited from these grant activities.

 

Trade and Investment

 

Sierra Leone is a member of the West Africa Trade Hub (WATH) supported by USAID. The main goal of the WATH is to strengthen the ability of member countries to develop their export trade, in particular to take advantage of opportunities available through the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).  The program strengthens networks of market information systems and traders’ organizations, and offers technical assistance and support services to developing countries.

FY 2008 Economic Growth Results at a Glance

Past Key Results:

The PAGE activity will capitalize on the earlier PL-480 activity entitled ‘Promoting Linkages for Livelihood Security and Economic Development’ (LINKS). Below are some examples of the results achieved under the LINKS activity.
• LINKS was successful in doubling farmer food production for 14,699 project beneficiaries during the period of 2003 to 2007.
• 14,699 farmers received four-month agricultural productivity training (e.g., improved agricultural methods) through the USAID-supported Farmer Field Schools.
• A total of 219.18 kilometers of farm-to-market roads were rehabilitated using a food-for-assets approach. (Communities were provided with working tools like wheelbarrow and shovels to rehabilitate the road. While they work, the food supplied is prepared for their consumption.).
• 11,632 people trained in business management. A total of $96,959 was loaned to 970 economically marginalized youth to start up micro-enterprises.
• 179 farmer groups participated in training workshops to develop agricultural supplies and marketing plans. The farmer groups initiated enterprises with the help of capital grants.

Planned Key Results:

Below are some examples of the results achieved to be achieved under the PAGE activity.
• Twenty percent increase in farmer incomes for 29,000 households directly benefitting 147,150 people. 375 new Farmer Field Schools (in addition to the existing 600 schools).
• 196 new Savings and Loans Associations established.
• Legal contracts established between communities and GOSL to co-manage forest reserves.