After years of decline and mismanagement, Sierra Leone is looking to transform the fortunes of its all-important agricultural sector, which makes up close to half of the country’s gross domestic product. The government has set a bold target to eliminate hunger by 2007, a major commitment to the long-suffering people of the nation. This means raising production of key crops like rice – once a major export commodity – to previous volumes, improving overall quality and diversifying output.

In some ways, Sierra Leone is perhaps one of the richest states in west Africa. Its agricultural potential is huge, with a lush climate supporting a wide variety of farming and production activities. There is an extensive network of rivers and minor coastal creeks throughout the country. Under good management, these resources can be properly harnessed for irrigation, inland river transportation purposes, power and water supplies.

‘We can turn our situation around’ Sama Monde

Food security is now seen as one of the pillars of government policy, dictating eventual success or failure. President Kabbah understands that hunger and poverty are two sides of the same coin – both are potentially difficult issues for a country trying to stand on its own two feet once more. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is leading the new fight against hunger. Agriculture Minister, Dr Sama Monde, says Sierra Leone must get its priorities right. “Rice is the staple food. It is also a political crop. You don’t play with rice. If there is a shortage, anything is possible.”

All the ingredients for a successful and diversified agricultural production base are already in place. The land is mostly arable, and, although there are still some impediments to transporting produce, the Ministry of Agriculture is working closely with the transport authorities to open up the country to farmers in remote locations through a modern and efficient network of roads and waterways.

Dr Monde says that Sierra Leone is currently spending around £75 million a year on imported foods – a high price to pay for an aid-dependent state. “We import all types of food, right down to eggs,” he says. “We import eggs from Brazil by sea, we import eggs from Europe. We are even afraid some of these chicken products might be infested. We have a massive problem of food insecurity. On rice alone we spend about £28 million a year on imports.”

The first objective of the ministry is to intensify agricultural production, to encourage more farming families to cultivate larger plots of land. This means providing them with basic inputs like seeds and machinery. “If these families are producing on one acre of land, we want to assist them to be able to produce on two or three acres, so that they can produce enough for their families and to supply the market,” says Dr Monde.

According to the Minister, Sierra Leone has 5.4 million hectares of arable land available, although only 20 per cent is currently under cultivation. Travelling from Freetown en route to the provinces there is bush on either side of the road, unlike other countries where farming activity is under way. “If we can crop half this land, we can turn our situation around,” he says. “We can run a stable economy based on agriculture for 10 or 15 years, and as we get prosperous we can exit agriculture and get into small industry.”

The second objective is to diversify production. The country’s current import-dependent status is a far cry from the days when Sierra Leone was a significant rice exporter. Other important export commodities from Sierra Leone include cocoa, coffee and palm oil. It hopes to return to the days when its produce was available to customers far beyond its shores. The government looks to places like China that have not only satisfied internal demand for rice but have expanded into other niche produce areas. Dr Monde sees potential in cassava, a major source of carbohydrate and popular in places like China, Brazil and Thailand.

There are also plans to add value to production instead of exporting raw coffee and cocoa. At present, there is only one sugar cane factory which produces just six tonnes a year, against an estimated requirement for 40,000 tonnes. There is a massive gap between supply and demand. Sierra Leone needs substantial investment to strengthen this agro-industrial base.

Through increased production there will be more food in the markets, which will in turn help to stabilise prices, making things more affordable for the poor. It will also open the door to the resumption of exports. Today, Sierra Leone has oil palm, groundnut, ginger and cotton, which were all once export crops. A major window of opportunity to export exists through the EU and the US. The ministry is keen to reorganise the sector to comply with new regulations on international sanitary standards that will unlock new export markets. Dr Monde is convinced that Sierra Leone will turn things around by 2007. “The good times are coming and they’re coming fast.”