SIERRA LEONE maq 4ª.indd - agrilife - Europa

6 Survey Results
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Figure 26. Allocation of acreage to different crops for the median farm in the Eastern region of Sierra Leone
Figure 27. Allocation of acreage to different crops for the median farm in the Northern region of Sierra Leone
a more relevant determinant to the decision of
seeking alternative secondary (off-farm) activities
rather than the actual size of the cultivated plot.
In any case, it is the agro-ecological setting which
puts limitations to the choice of crops and thus
access to higher cash income via the engagement
in market sales versus self-consumption.
The proportion of smallholders cultivating
different crops is presented in Figure 25. This
figure shows that 90-100% of the growers
produce coffee or/and cocoa in the East.
Additionally, cassava and vegetables are more
present in the East. In the North, (lowland and
upland) rice is the dominant crop although intercropped
with other stapes such as sweet potato
or tree crops such as oil which is usually devoted
to domestic consumption.
Figure 26 and Figure 27 compare land
allocation in the Northern and Eastern region for
the median farmer, confirming the above findings.
6.1.4 Resources of smallholders
Resources in terms labour, land and capital
available to smallholders are described in this
sub-section. In the case of capital there is hardly
any machinery, agricultural buildings or monetary
savings that could be used for production.
However, livestock and agricultural stocks do
compose an important part of the wealth of