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The case of smallholders in Sierra Leone - agrilife - Europa

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Figure 37: Evaluation <strong>of</strong> benefits from membership <strong>in</strong> farmer organisations, Eastern<br />

region<br />

Figure 38: Evaluation <strong>of</strong> benefits from membership <strong>in</strong> farmer organisations, Northern<br />

region.<br />

In the Eastern region, access to specialised knowledge (for both market<strong>in</strong>g and process<strong>in</strong>g) as<br />

well as access to markets is perceived as the key benefits from jo<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g a farmer organisation.<br />

This is congruent to the needs <strong>of</strong> cocoa and c<strong>of</strong>fee producers. In the Northern region access to<br />

seeds and tools are the most perceived benefits, thus reflect<strong>in</strong>g the particular production<br />

challenges <strong>of</strong> staple producers. <strong>The</strong>se results could partially be expla<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong><br />

particular production process necessities which are different between rice and c<strong>of</strong>fee or cocoa<br />

growers. In the Northern districts, farmers aim at secur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>put access and <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g their<br />

productivity and overall output while <strong>in</strong> the East, farmers are highly concerned with<br />

guarantee<strong>in</strong>g cash crop output is marketed and sold at sufficiently high prices for which<br />

improved management strategies at pre and post-harvest stages are crucial.<br />

89

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