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SIERRA LEONE maq 4ª.indd - agrilife - Europa

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Figure 4. Composition of exports from Sierra Leone in 2005<br />

Source: Own calculations based on Statistics Sierra Leone, 2008.<br />

Sierra Leonean exports are almost exclusively<br />

based on diamonds as shown in Figure 4.<br />

Nevertheless in recent years, the export of other<br />

minerals and especially of cash crops is being<br />

encouraged. However, with diamond exports<br />

alone, mining contributes over 90% of exports a<br />

total value of 408 861.4 million Leones10 in 2005<br />

(Statistics Sierra Leone, 2008). Export growth was<br />

positive for all products in 2007 but fell in 2008<br />

due to technical problems with the Kimberlite<br />

diamond and Rutile mining operations (World<br />

Bank, 2009).<br />

Despite the importance of mining for exports,<br />

the country’s economy is primarily based on<br />

agriculture. Agricultural production has increased<br />

since the end of the civil war and has significant<br />

potential for sustained economic growth and job<br />

creation throughout the country. According to<br />

the first (2003) and the second (2009) Poverty<br />

Reduction Strategy Papers, this sector is a major<br />

pillar for the future development of the country.<br />

The analysis of this particular sector will be<br />

developed in the next chapter.<br />

10 10000 Leones equates to approximately 1.86 EUR<br />

(September 2010).<br />

To summarize, Sierra Leone is characterised<br />

by the following key traits:<br />

• Approximately two-thirds of the population<br />

is estimated to live in rural areas. About<br />

70 % of the population lives below the<br />

poverty line, most in severe poverty. 26 % of<br />

the population is food poor, i.e. they cannot<br />

afford a basic diet.<br />

• Sierra Leone has a very young population,<br />

with about 42 % under 15 years of age and<br />

almost 75% under 35 years of age. 60% of<br />

the youth (non-school going 15-year olds to<br />

35-year old adults) is either unemployed or<br />

underemployed.<br />

According to FAO representatives in the<br />

country, addressing this serious unemployment<br />

and poverty situation, and fully exploiting<br />

Sierra Leone’s considerable potential for<br />

the development of agriculture, agro-based<br />

industries, mining, fisheries, hydro-power and<br />

tourism will be a precondition if the country is to<br />

move from post-conflict recovery to sustainable<br />

peace, stability and economic growth11 .<br />

11 FAO Representation in Sierra Leone Website on http://coin.<br />

fao.org/cms/world/sierraleone/CountryInformation.html<br />

Rural poverty reduction and food security: The case of smallholders in Sierra Leone<br />

29

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