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SIERRA LEONE maq 4ª.indd - agrilife - Europa

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3 The Agricultural Sector<br />

36<br />

Figure 9. Sierra Leone export volume of tree crops in metric tons<br />

Source: MAFFS, 2008.<br />

Tree crop plantations in the Eastern region<br />

constitute the bulk of agricultural exports. Coffee<br />

and cocoa are the major tree crops, and are grown<br />

almost exclusively for export, while oil palm tree<br />

is mainly produced for local consumption. Other<br />

relevant exports include kola nut followed by<br />

rubber, cashew, orange and mango.<br />

The area under cultivation and the associated<br />

production of export tree crop are constantly<br />

increasing, particularly in the case of cocoa,<br />

which is actively supported by international<br />

development programs (Figure 9).<br />

Likewise, the agricultural sector is<br />

considered an important source of foreign<br />

exchange earnings. In 2005, the sector<br />

accounted for approximately 15% and 5% of<br />

imports and exports, respectively. 16 Figure 10<br />

and Figure 11 describe top import and export<br />

goods, respectively. Among imports, milled rice<br />

constitutes the most important in terms of value.<br />

In a distant second position, cattle, prepared food,<br />

cigarettes and refined sugar are found. Regarding<br />

16 Government of Sierra Leone (2008): Annual statistical<br />

digests 2005/2006<br />

exports, cocoa beans occupy an undisputed first<br />

position, followed by coffee.<br />

The total value of agricultural exports was<br />

13.67 million US$ in 2007 (PRSP II, 2009), of which<br />

cocoa is accounted for by 85% (MAFFS, 2009a).<br />

Production is expected to increase considerably<br />

following full rehabilitation of cocoa and coffee<br />

plantations, and the introduction of more efficient<br />

processing methods resulting in the potential for<br />

improved product quality and hence better earnings<br />

on the world market (NSADP, 2009). So far, export<br />

earnings from coffee increased by 268% from 2005<br />

to 2007, with export earnings from cocoa increased<br />

by 101% over the same period (PRSP II, 2009).<br />

This sustained increase in coffee exports can be<br />

attributed to favourable world market prices (PRSP<br />

II, 2009) associated with recent government efforts<br />

in conjunction with international agency support,<br />

e.g. the USTP initiative which have resulted in the<br />

recovery of the export crop sub-sector, in particular<br />

due to increased production levels and better<br />

quality control measures (Action Aid International<br />

Sierra Leone, 2009).

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