report on food security and sustainable...

REPORT ON FOOD SECURITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT : STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCING FOOD SECURITY IN THE MANO RIVER UNION CPUNTRIES OF

GUINEA, LIBERIA, AND SIERRA LEONE Subregional Development Centre for West Africa (SRDC-WA) ABSTRACT This study delineated strategies for enhancing food security in the Mano River Union (MRU) countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. In addition, it identified and analyzed past food production and agro-industrial projects implemented by the MRU along with exemplary agricultural and food production, processing, storage and marketing projects in Liberia and Sierra Leone, for lessons and successful practices relevant for the formulation and implementation of agricultural and food security policies and action programmes in the post- conflict period. It proposed the following four policy options and action programmes for enhancing food security in the MRU : . Increasing domestic food supply, by e.g., the allocction of substantial resources to the

food and agricultural sectors by the governments of member States; focusing on small holder farmers as the principal producers; expand sustainable domestic food production through the intensification of production on land with agricultural potentials currently in use, rather than marginal land; and through farmers undertaking food production on an economically and environmentally sustainable basis.

. Raising the income of vulnerable or disadvantaged groups; . Fostering the role of women; and . Strengthening inter-state cooperation in food trade, by e.g., fostering legitimate cross-

border trade in food commodities and livestock.

I. INTRODUCTION 1. Most of the 1990s could be considered as lost development years for Liberia and

Sierra Leone. The Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO, 2000a) Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) classified the two countries for most of this period, among those facing exceptional food emergencies. The main reasons for this sad state of affairs were mainly structural imbalances in the economies and the negative impact of the civil conflicts on the economies of the two countries including food production, processing, storage and marketing. The hosting of Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees for most of the 1990s also affected the precarious food security of neighbouring Guinea, the third member of the MRU.

2. Against this backdrop, this study proposes strategies for enhancing food security in the

Mano River Union (MRU) countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in the post-conflict period. More specifically, its objectives include: to identify and analyze past food production and agro-industrial projects implemented by the MRU in the pre-conflict period along with exemplary agricultural and food production, processing, storage and marketing projects in Liberia and Sierra Leone, for lessons and exemplary practices relevant for the formulation and implementation of agricultural and food security policies and action programmes in the post-conflict period. To provide a background to the discussion in subsequent sections, a brief account is provided of the geographical, economic and social settings.

1.1 Backaround 3. The Mano River Union constituting the three contiguous countries of Liberia, Sierra

Leone and Guinea encompasses a land area of 428,966 km2. Guinea has the largest land area, 57% of the total of the three countries. According to estimates of the United Nations,(1998), the total population of the three countries amounts to 15,438,000 in 2000 (Table 1). Guinea, with a population size of roughly 7.4 million is the most populated, followed by Sierra Leone (4.9 million) and Liberia (3.2 million). Social indicators such as life expectancy at birth, infant mortality, adult literacy rates along with the UNDP human development index (Table 1) are low even for sub-Saharan African standards.

4. With reference to economic performance, the countries of the MRU have witnessed

economic decline in the 1990s, which could be attributed mainly to structural imbalances in the economies and civil conflicts in Liberia and Sierra Leone that had spillover effects on Guinea. For example, the average, real GDP per capita was $1,168 in 1993, highest in Guinea ($1,800) and about the same level in Liberia ($843) and Sierra Leone ($860). Between 1993 and 1997, the GDP per capita increased marginally in Guinea, i.e., by $80 and precipitously declined in Sierra Leone, by 50%.

Table 1. Selected Socio-Economic Indicators, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone INDICATORS DATE GUINEA LIBERIA SIERRA LEONE Population size(000)

2000 7,430 3?154 4,854

Land Area (Km2) 245,857 111,369 71,740 Total Fertility Rate (per woman)

2000-2005 5.03 5.81 5.59

Life Expectancy at Birth (year)

2000-2005 48.5 54.9 40.7

Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000 birth)

2000-2005 114 75 146

Adult Literacy rate (%)

1998 36.0 - 31.0

Overall Enrollment ratio(%)

1998 29 - 24

Real GP per capita ($)

1993 1800 843 860

Real GDP per capita ($°

1997 1880 - 410

Real per capita ($)

1998 1782 - 458

Human Development Index

1998 0.394 - 0.252

Source : United Nations, World Population Prospects; New York : 1999 UNDP, Human Development Reports, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2000 ; New York. 5. Agriculture occupies a prominent position in the economies of Guinea, Liberia, and

Sierra Leone, contributing about one-third of GDP and employing approximately two-thirds of the economically active population.

6. As a sequel of the conflicts in Liberia and Sierra Leone, rural farmers in areas where

rebels operated lost almost all of their productive resources such as seeds, implements and other capital assets. As well, the conflicts sometimes resulted in the large-scale destruction of infrastructure and rural institutions along with the displacement of rural farm labour.

7. The hosting of Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees for most of the 1990s also

affected the precarious food security of neighbouring Guinea, the third member of the MRU .

8. These negative impacts of the conflicts pose special challenges to policy decision-makers and planners in the formulation and implementation of strategies for enhancing food security in the post-conflict period.

II. CHALLENGES FOR PROMOTION OF FOOD SECURITY 9. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2000b) has defined food security as a

situation where people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences, for an active and healthy life. Food security is achieved by ensuring that sufficient food is available that supplies are relatively stable and those in need of food can obtain it.

10. Among the critical factors compromising efforts geared towards enhancing agriculture

and food security in sub-Saharan African countries such as those in the Mano River Union, are (Tekolla, 1997, chapter 4; Idachaba, 1990):

. Ineffective agricultural planning and policy strategies; . Paucity of resources; . Inadequate and/or poor state of rural infrastructures and supporting agricultural

services, e.g., research and extension; . Limited technical capabilities; Poor interstate co-operation; . Deficiency in institutional management. . Political instability and civil conflicts; 11. These factors have spawned the following consequences in the Mano River countries

(Osenso-Okyere et alia, 1997; Nana-Sinkam, 1992; Oben, 1991): a. Low and Inadequate Domestic Food Production 12. Lacklustre food and agricultural production performances account for a major share of

the problems of food insecurity in the Mano River Union countries. Among the contributory factors are civil conflicts in Liberia and Sierra Leone and inefficient production practices and inadequate supporting services. The International Food Policy Research Institute concludes from its research that, on average, countries in conflict produce 12.4 percent less food per caput in war years than during peace (Amoako, 2000).

13. Food and agricultural production increases have essentially occurred in subsaharan

Africa through the expansion of acreage under cultivation by the cultivation of marginal lands and the commons (forests, wetlands, bush land, hillsides), rather than through increased yields. Low outputs are also caused by the poor state of agricultural technology and the system of shifting cultivation, which, under the present regime of high population growth and high population densities involves shorter fallow periods that do not give the soil sufficient time to rejuvenate. In addition, inadequate

infrastructures and supporting services, for example, agricultural research, extension, credit and marketing, have aggravated the problems of food insecurity.

14. In Liberia and Sierra Leone, large number of these infrastructures and supporting

services became dilapidated and/or were damaged during the wars. b. Rising Demand for Food Commodities 15. Food production growth rates have not kept pace with population growth rates leading

to stagnating or declining per caput food production. 16. A principal reason for stagnating or declining per caput food production is the

continuous increase in the populations of countries of the MRU. As well, high rates of urbanization, around 5-6 percent per annum, are an important dimension of the pattern of population growth in the MRU. In this context, it should be noted that the wars accelerated the pace of inward city migration as displaced rural populations gravitated towards major towns.

17. Urbanization reduced the rural labour force available for food production, and at the

same time, swelled the ranks of the urban poor threatened by food insecurity and malnutrition. Moreover, the growing urban population has increased the demand for not only locally produced food items but also for imported food, commodities such as wheat, rice, canned fish and processed livestock.

c. Poverty 18. The number of malnourished persons has grown over the years in the three countries,

with the rise in the number of vulnerable groups such as the urban and rural poor and struggling small holder farmers along with internally displaced persons and refugees. A major contributing factor is the downturn in economic activities especially in Liberia and Sierra Leone. As a result there is a decline in calorie intakes in the three countries when compared with minimum requirements.

d. Increasing Dependency on Food Imports and Food Aid 19. In the pre- and post-conflict periods, and more so, during the war periods, resort had

been frequently made to commercial cereal imports (especially rice) to fill in the gap between domestic demand and supply for food in the Mano River Union countries, especially Liberia and Sierra Leone (Tables 2 & 3). In addition, food aid has increasingly supplemented domestic food supplies, especially in the war periods, when agricultural production was frequently disrupted and foreign exchange to purchase imported food commodities was scarce.

20. However the capacity of these countries to utlize commercial import in this difficult

periods has been restricted as a result of factors such as shortages of foreign currency, balance of payment problems and the debt burden.

III. REVIEW OF PAST FOOD PRODUCTION AND AGRO-INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS OF THE MRU

21. In this section, past food production and agro-industrial projects of the MRU are reviewed for lessons relevant for the formulation and implementation of agricultural and food security policies and action programmes in the post-conflict period.

22. The Mano River Declaration established the Mano River Union (MRU) in 1973 as a

custom union (SRDC, 1999). As such the Declaration underlined among its objectives the following to custom union measures: trade expansion, fair distribution of the benefits of economic cooperation, liberation of mutual trade in goods of local origin and harmonization of rates of import duties and other fiscal incentives.

23. The Declaration also envisaged the following measures on food security in the first

phase of the establishment of the Union:

“Support measures, as may be considered necessary, for developing cooperation in the production of agricultural and manufactured products of local products of local origin."

24. It is within this mandate that the MRU undertook a number of food production and

agro-industrial projects aimed at enhancing food security in its member States during the pre-conflict period.

25. The strategies behind these projects were guided by the realization that agriculture has

the potential to reverse their increasing dependence on food imports, to increase export earnings in the short to medium term and to foster the linkages between agriculture and industry .

26. These food production and agro-industrial projects could be classified into three main

major categories: (a) agro-industrial; (b) livestock and fishery development; and (c) training workshops and seminars.

3.1 Agro-industrial project a. Mini palm oil mills project 27. The long-term objective of this project was to provide solutions to the deficiencies in

the processing of palm oil. Palm oil is a major food component in the diet and the preferred Liberia cooking oil of the population of the MRU member countries. In the form it is generally used, unrefined, the oil contains a large amount of vitamin A or its precursors.

28. At the time of the formulation of the project, there was severe shortage of palm oil due

to insufficient processing facilities and inefficiencies in the then existing mills in member States. As a result, a large number of fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) were not harvested and were left to waste. Furthermore, the little amount that was harvested often arrived at the few available in member States late, resulting low quality due to an increased release of free fatty acid. This is still the situation in the post conflict period.

29. The Mini Palm Oil Mills Project was designed to alleviate these problems by

developing a more efficient method of processing that will improve the quality of the oil;

and to encourage the harvesting of more FFBs that are currently left to waste and thereby increase , the supply of oil for cooking purposes.

30. Ten prototype mills were manufactured and four each were installed in Sierra Leone

and Guinea; and two were reserved for installation in Liberia after the restoration of peace. Market studies conducted after the field trials confirmed the commercial viability of the mills. In addition, the mills were designed in such a way that they are easy to operate and are affordable. Moreover, the mills also have the potential of creating rural employment and c in the process assist with stemming of rural-to-urban migration.

31. Just as the MRU was about to embark on the third phase of the project, i.e. mass

production in response to the massive demand expressed by Guinean and Sierra Leonean consumers and entrepreneurs, hostilities intensified.

32. The income generation and employment creation potentials of the prototype mills,

among other benefits, strongly argue for the revival of the project in the post-conflict period.

3.2 Livestock and fishery development a. Livestock 33. One of the sectors that was most devastated by the wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone is

livestock. Livestock (including small ruminants) were indiscriminately slaughtered and production facilities were vandalized with some destroyed beyond repair. Consequently, livestock farmers were forced to flee to urban areas resulting in severe shortage of animal protein.

34. In 1986, the Union conducted studies, which determined the technical and economic

viability for selecting and multiplying trypanosome tolerant livestock. The Union Ministerial Council endorsed this programme, which had the following components: development of trypanosome tolerant cattle; development of small ruminants (sheep and goats) production; and development of ox traction.

35. The Secretariat was mandated to seek funding for its immediate implementation. For

the selection and multiplication of trypanosome tolerant cattle, the Boke Livestock Centre in Guinea was chosen to be the nucleus of the component. Satellite centres were also identified in all three member countries.

36. The development of sheep and goat production component was implemented in

member collaboration with FAO. Centres had already been identified in the three member countries and but civil conflicts in the sub-region led to the suspension of the implementation of the components. The component on the regional control of trypanosomaisis was implemented in collaboration with ITC in the Gambia and the International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA) in Ethiopia and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

37. This programme requires priority action in the post-conflict period. The intervention of

the MRU and other development partners should aim at addressing the acute shortage

of animal increase protein and to resettle livestock farmers dislocated by the war, to enable them resume productive economic activities.

b. Fisheries 38. Fish is an important source of protein for the population of the MRU and is consumed

more compared with meat. 39. In collaboration with the FAO, the Union Secretariat had embarked on a programme

for: .the determination of the limits of the territorial waters of the Member States; and .the joint protection of the territorial waters of the sub-region.

40. A request was submitted to the European Union to finance detailed feasibility studies

for the execution of this programme. The European Union had already indicated willingness to finance such studies when war broke out in the sub-region. Future Work Programme of the Union should include activities for the immediate implementation of this project.

3.3 Training seminars and workshops a. Workshop on the reduction of post-harvest losses 41. In the pre-war period, the MRU conducted a workshop with participants drawn from

relevant institutions of Member States on the reduction of post-harvest losses. The workshop came out with a comprehensive programme for the manufacture and utilization of relevant technology for the reduction of post-harvest losses, that the Islamic Development Bank which co-financed the workshop had expressed interest in providing finance for its implementation.

b. Middle-level training for livestock operators 42. Within the framework of the development of livestock discussed above, before be

outbreak of hostilities in the sub-region, the Boke Centre provided middle-level manpower training for livestock operators in the Member States. The training provided was lost due to the intensification of the war, which prevented the Liberian participants from returning to their stations, on the one hand, and the displacement of the Sierra Leonean participants, on the other.

3.4 Conclus.ons 43. Although the three sets of agricultural and food production projects of the MRU

reviewed above-agro-industrial, livestock and fishery development and training workshops and seminars- were arbitrarily selected, that is, without the benefit of a coherent and well conceived plan, they should nonetheless be re-formulated for implementation in the post-conflict period, for the following three reasons.

44. Firstly in the pre-conflict period when these projects were formulated, substantial work-e.g., the preparation of feasibility studies and business plans had been done on them. These analyses clearly established their viability. For example, for the prototype palm oil mills, under agro-industrial projects, market studies and field trials that were undertaken confirmed their commercial viability.

45. Secondly, compared with brand new projects, resources for the re-formulation of the

projects, including preparation of business plans and feasibility studies for their implementations in the post-conflict period will be inexpensive.

46. Thirdly, these projects had attracted development partners who could again be

persuaded to provide funds for them in the post-conflict period. 47. At a general level, the MRU should review and re-formulate its policy options and

action plans for agricultural and food production, processing, storage and marketing in the post-conflict period by a coherent and well-conceived plan. For this exercise, criteria taking into account the comparative advantage of the MRU as a sub-regional organization should be established for the ranking of projects.

48. Utilizing these criteria, projects to be included in the post-conflict period could be

classified as follows:

. First priority projects should be sub-regional: those with a sub-regional dimension, that is, encompassing cross-border transactions and activities; and which implicitly promote sub-regional cooperation and integration;

. Second priority projects should be multi-national: those involving two or three of

the member States in their joint formulation and implementation. 49. With the exception of the components on the determination of the limits of the territorial

waters of member States, and the joint protection of the territorial waters of the sub-region, the other three sets of projects reviewed above ( agro-industrial, livestock and training workshops and seminars), could be classified under the second priority projects, multi- national.

50. In the post-conflict period, sub-regional projects should prominently feature among the

MRU's portfolio of activities for enhancing food security. Apart from the two fisheries project mentioned above, a project on strengthening inter-state cooperation in legitimate cross-border trade in food commodities and livestock is another viable sub-regional project that should foster sub-regional cooperation and integration.

IV. EXEMPLARY AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD PRODUCTION, PROCESSING AND MARKETING PROJECTS IN THE MRU COUNTRIES OF SIERRA LEONE AND LIBERIA 51. Exemplary agricultural and food production, processing and marketing projects in

Sierra Leone and Liberia are reviewed in this section for successful practices relevant for the formulation and implementation of agricultural and food security policies and action programmes in the post-conflict period. Annex II presents the profiles of a sample of these projects. The information was collected by a specially designed

questionnaire (Annex 1) on the role of women in fostering food security in post-conflict countries prepared by SRDC-WA and administered by the SRDC-WA focal points in the two countries (SRDC, 2001),

52. Women organizations involved in food production, processing, storage and marketing

in the two countries have generic characteristics depending on whether they are located in the urban or rural areas. In the rural areas, women organizations are engaged in upland rice, or swamp rice, cultivation of substitute diets like cassava (for garri) and fishing in inland streams and rivers as well as at the coast. In the urban areas, these organizations are mostly engaged in fishing, market gardening and some upland and swamp rice cultivation. The women associations in the urban areas are normally relatively developed and have enough technical expertise to prepare project proposals for funding, especially micro-credit financing. They are mostly formed with the principal objective of pooling resources together ad action or enhancing the capacity to attract loans.

4.1 Sierra Leone 53. The selected projects are implemented by women's organizations whose membership

range from about 12 to over 1000 women members. A small number include men as associate members. Each organization has a hierarchical management structure, at the head of which is a manager or coordinator.

54. Agricultural and food production, processing, storage and marketing are the major

activities promote of the projects, encompassing the following types of farming and fishing: swamp and upland rice; vegetable gardening; artisanal fishing.

55. In addition, jobs and skills training, including literacy, vocational and bookkeeping

training and health (e.g., midwifery) courses, are undertaken by the bigger organizations.

56. Among the objectives of the projects are the following:

. Improvement of agricultural and food production, processing, storage and . Empowerment of women members to be self-reliant and self-sustainable; . . Augmentation of the income earning capacity of members; ': . Improvement of the nutritional status of members and their families;

. Promotion of the health status of members and their families. 57. The source of funds is initially from membership contributions, but in many cases, the

project develop fast enough to attract micro-credit from NGOs and Government through the National Council on Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery (NC/RRR) Programme. Organization and coordination of the group is normally in the hands of a group coordinator who is normally in the most influential person. The

groups also usually benefit from agricultural extension services due to their size and varied membership.

58. In the rural areas, the organizations are more successful in farming and they receive

substantial support from international NGOs operating in the rural areas. The organisations in the urban areas are mostly involved in market gardening, fish processing and marketing. Assistance in managerial training and basic book keeping is also provided by NGOs to groups irrespective of their locations.

4.2 Liberia 59. The Liberian Marketing Association (LMA) is the only exemplary Liberian woman

and/or women dominated organization that we have information on. Although LMA is not exclusively limited to women, women run the organization. LMA markets locally produced food items in urban areas.

60. Founded in the 1970s, LMA is a nationwide organization with branches in very heavily

populated urban areas. Every LMA general market operates a warehouse where items intended for the market from the rural areas of production are stored until sold.

61. LMA plays a pivotal role in the storage and marketing of locally produced food items ill

urban areas of Liberia. 62. Its major problem is lack of funds in recent years to rehabilitate and improve its

warehouses and markets. 4.3 Exemplary Practices 63. The following are some exemplary practices delineated from an examination of the projects: . Active involvement of women in formulation, implementation and monitoring of agricultural and food production, processing, storage and marketing projects; . Enhanced empowerment of women through their agricultural and food production,

processing, storage and marketing activities; . Promotion of self -reliance among women; . By virtue of being organized in groups rather than as individuals, women are in a better

position to compete for funds, credit, extension services and other infrastructures and services, and also to pool resources together to tackle food security and other sustainable development issues;

. The multi-sectoral nature of the projects of these organizations enable them to take

advantage of synergies of inter-linkages (e.g. the nexus of population, food security and environment) and mainstream gender dimensions in sustainable development issue addressed by them.

V. STRATEGIES FOR PROMOTION OF FOOD SECURITY IN THE MRU 64. This section on strategies for promotion of food security is presented in two parts. In

the first part, general perspectives are discussed, followed by policy options and action benefit programmes for enhancing food security by sub-regional and multi-national approaches, in the second.

5.1 Perspectives on Enhancing Food Security 65. Amoako (2000) has succinctly described the policy options for enhancing food security

in Africa as involving the following measures:

. Creating and linking to users knowledge of agricultural technology;

. Improving soil and water management;

. Upgrading physical and institutional infrastructures;

. Facilitating market integration within Africa and with the rest of the world; .. Promoting crop diversification; . Creating new investment.

66. The 1996 World Food Summit proposed the following policy options and action

programmes for enhancing food security:

.Increase agricultural production as increased and sustained access to food is guaranteed e Items by agricultural growth, .To this end, a target for food production should be set at around 4 percent per annum.

. Review and adopt po!icies to pursue the eradication of hunger and the attainment of sustainable food security at the household and national levels, ,

.Introduce strategies to increase food production through the sustainable development of the agricultural sector, improvement in market opportunities and access to food by low-income persons,

.Periodically monitor the availability and nutritional adequacy of food supplies and reserve stocks, giving particular attention to nutritionally vulnerable groups and to areas at high risk of food insecurity and where seasonal variations have important nutritional implications,

.Promote an support community-based 100 security and nutrition programmes that encourage self-reliance, utilizing participatory planning and implementation process.

67. The FAO's Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS) for Low-Income, Food Deficit

Countries (LIFDCs) (that is, countries least able to meet their food needs through imports) (FAO, 2000a) promotes national food security through:

. rapid increases in productivity and food production, . reduction of year-to-yea varibility in production; and

. agricultural activities done on an economically environmentally sustainable basis

68. SPFS's four guiding principles are, namely-national ownership, a participatory

approach, environmental awareness and sensitivity, and regard for the role of women. 5.2 Policy options and action programmes for enhancing food security in the MRU 69. Drawing from the above and other perspectives (Osenso-Okyere et alia, 1997; Nana

Sinkam, 1992; Oben, 1991) along with the previous review of lessons and exemplary practices, we have identified four policy and action programmes for enhancing food security in the MRU countries in the post conflict period, namely:

a. Increasing domestic food supply 70. In view of the growing dependence of MRU countries on imported food and food aid in

recent years -with its attendant rising risks and costs, such as inadequate foreign exchange . earnings- in the post-conflict period an attempt should be made to minimize these risks and costs by promoting national food production through a limited food sufficiency policy. Expansion of national food production could be tackled by a variety of policy options and action programmes:

.An essential prerequisite is that the food and agricultural sectors should be allocated substantial resources by the government;

.A major aim of the policy options and action programmes should be, with small holder farmers as the principal producers, to expand sustainable domestic food production by intensifying production on land with agricultural potentials currently in use, rather than marginal land;

.To rebuild and/or renovate supporting rural infrastructures and services such as agricultural research, extension, credit and marketing;

.Introduce more efficient post-harvest management of storage and processing;

.Articulate the research needs of small holder farmers by using rural institutions;

.Foster networking among national research systems;

.Equitable allocation of resources between export and food crop productions;

.Food and agricultural production done on an economically and environmentally sustainable basis.

b. Raising the income of vulnerable or disadvantaged 71. The prevalence of poverty has increased in MRU countries partly as a result of the civil

conflicts and partly by the downturn in economic activities in recent years. Given the close links between access to food and purchasing power, a reduction of poverty

should be given priority in any policy to enhance food security in the Union. Off-farm employment opportunities in rural areas and improvement of income and employment conditions in urban informal sectors are options to be considered.

c. Fostering the role of women 72. Women play key roles as food producers and providers in the MRU countries. Yet they

face more difficulties than men do in accessing resources. Accordirgly, food strategies should address the special problems of this population group, especially vulnerable women, for example, female heads of households, pertaining to limited access to resources: e.g., land, labour, capital, credit and extension services.

73. In recognition of their valuable contribution to food security, women should be involved

in the formulation, monitoring and implementation of agricultural and food production, processing, storage and marketing projects and programmes.

d. Strengthening inter-state cooperation in food trade. 74. At the sub-regional level, food security in the post-conflict period should be enhanced

through legitimate trans-border trade in food commodities and livestock. Inter-country border trade could benefit from the differences in climate and vegetation along with the food production mix between the north and south of the MRU countries. To be sure these differences are not so pronounced as those between, for example, the Sahelien and coastal countries of West Africa. All the same, cereals, legumes and livestock produced in the north change could be exchanged for the roots and tubers, oil-bearing crops and fish of the south.

75. At the moment, legitimate trans-border trade in the three countries is handicapped by

the following factors:

. The usage of three different currencies (the Guinean franc, the Liberian dollar and the Sierra Leonean leone ); and two languages, French and English;

. Non-standardization of customs and immigration procedures across borders

resulting in long periods of waiting;

. The presence of numerous road checkpoints coupled with the extortion of money;

. A high level of corruption by security, immigration and customs officials; . A large number of illiterates participating in the trade; . Poor transportation and communication facilities.

76. To address some of the above mentioned problems, the MRU countries should attempt

to experiment with or continue utilization of the following ECOW AS measures:

. The ECOWAS's protocol on the free movements of persons and goods across member states; and

. The 1998 ECOWAS travelers' cheques. 77. With reference to strategies, two have been proposed by the Mano River Initiative, to

enhance legitimate border trade, in for example, food commodities in the post conflict period, namely:

. The conduct of a study of the current status of border trade including trade in

food products in the MRU countries;

. The initiation of development activities in border areas, especially incomte generating and employment-creating activities.

78. Moreover, MRU and SRDC-WA could foster inter-country and subregional cooperation

activities on aspects of food production, processing, storage and marketing, for example, pest control (including locusts and birds) and food and post-harvest losses projects. The activities could include multi-country projects e.g., workshops and seminars.

VI. SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS 6.1 Summary 79. This study has delineated strategies for enhancing food security in the Mano River

Union (MRU) countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone; identified and analyzed past food production and agro-industrial projects implemented by the MRU along with exemplary agricultural and food production, processing, storage and marketing projects in Liberia and Sierra Leone, for lessons and successful practices relevant for the formulation and implementation of agricultural and food security policies and action programmes in the post-conflict period.

80. It proposed the following four policy options and action programmes for enhancing food

security in the MRU:

. Increasing domestic food supply, by e.g., the allocation of substantial resources to the food and agricultural sectors by the governments of member States; focusing on small holder farmers as the principal producers; expand sustainable domestic food production through the intensification of production on land with agricultural potentials currently in use, rather than marginal land; and though farmers undertaking food production on an economically and environmentally sustainable basis.

. Raising the income of vulnerable or disadvantaged groups; .Fostering the role of

women;

. Strengthening inter-state cooperation in food trade, by e.g., fostering legitimate cross- border trade in food commodities and livestock.

6.2 Recommendations 81. olicy options and action plans for enhancing food security in the post-conflict period in

the Mano River Union (MRU) countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, should stress, increasing domestic food supply, strengthening inter-state cooperation in food trade, and the active involvement of women in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of agricultural and food production, processing, storage and marketing projects.

82. he MRU should review and re-formulate its policy options and action plans for

agricultural and food production, processing, storage and marketing in the post conflict period by a coherent and well-conceived plan. For this exercise, criteria taking into account the comparative advantage of the MRU as a sub-regional organization should be established for the ranking of projects.

83. Sub-regional projects -i.e., those with a sub-regional dimension, that is, encompassing

cross-border transactions and activities, and which implicitly promote sub-regional cooperation and integration- should rank highest in the ranking of projects. In this connection, in the post-conflict period sub-regional projects should prominently feature among the MRU's portfolio of activities for enhancing food security.

84. To this end, study of the current status of border trade including trade in food products

in the MRU countries should be conducted. 85. Multi-sectoral projects, because they take advantage of synergies of inter-linkages

(e.g" the nexus of population, food security and environment) and mainstream gender" dimensions in sustainable development plans, policies and programmes, should also prominently feature among the MRU's future portfolio of activities for enhancing food security in the post-conflict period.

86. The three countries are urged to join the model food security project, the FAO's Special

Programme for Food Security (SPFS) for Low-Income, Food Deficit Countries (that is, countries least able to meet their food needs through imports) (FAO, 2000a). As LIFDCs countries, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone are eligible to join. (See paragraphs 68-69 on SPFS).

REFERENCES - Amoako, K. Y. 2000. Food Security in the Knowledge and Information Era, Address

given at the Annual Meeting of the American Agricultural Economics Association, Tampa, Florida, USA, 31 July 2000

- Asenso-Okyere, W. K.; G. Benneh; & W .Tills. 1997. The status of food security in

West Africa : In W. K. Asenso-Okyere et alia (ed.) Sustainable Food Security in West Africa. ~8-69 on Boston, Mass.: Kluwer Academic Publishers

- Benneh, George, 1996. Toward Sustainable Small holder agriculture in Sub-Saharan

Africa, IFPRI lecture series, Washington DC

- Camara, M. S. 2000 Analyse de la problématique de sécurité alimentaire en Guinee- Bissau, Dakar: Institut African de Développement Economique et de Planification.

- FAO,2000a. Special Programme for food Security, FAO Website; - FAO, 2000b. Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture.

FAO, Website. - Idachaba, Francis, 1990. Policy Options for African Agriculture. In J.Dreze and A.Sen

(eds.) The Political Economy of Strategies on Hunger. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

- Nana-Sinkam, S.C. 1992. Food Security or Food Sufficiency? Why Should Africa increase its Production. ECA/FAO Agriculture Division, Food and Agriculture in Africa. Staff Paper, no.2

- Oben, Don, 1991. Increasing Food Supply and Availability in Africa through Efficient

Marketing and Distribution. ECA/FAO Agriculture Division, Food and Agriculture in Africa. Staff Paper, no.1

- Palmer, Ingrid, 1991. Gender and Population in the Adjustment of African economies.

Geneva: ILO - Siamwalla, A. and Valdes, 1984. Food security in developing countries: international

issues. In C. K. Eicher and J. M. Staaz (eds.) Agricultural Development in the Third World. Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press

- Saito. A. 1994. Raising the Productivity of Women Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa.

World Bank Discussion Papers. Washington, D. C. - Sub-Regional Development Centre of West Africa (SRDC-WA), 2001. Food Security

and Sustainable Development with special Reference to Women and Vulnerable Groups in Conflict and Post-Conflict Countries in West Africa, Niamey.

- Sub-Regional Development Centre of West Africa (SRDC-WA), 1999. The Revitalization of the Mano River Union and the Future of Regional Integration and Co-operation in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Niamey.

- UNFPA, 1995. Programme of Action of the United Nations International Conference on

Population and development. New York: UNFPA - UNFPA. 1994. Report of the International Conference on population and Development

New York: UNFP A - UNFPA.1995. National Perspectives on Population and Development. New York:

UNFPA United Nations. 1992. Population, Environment and Development. Proceedings of the United Nations Expert Group Meeting on Population, Environment and Development, United Nations Headquarters, 20-24 Jan. 1992

- United Nations. 1995 World summit for social development: The Copenhagen

Declaration and Programme of Action, 6-12 March 1995 New York - United Nations. 1993. Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and

Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992.New York. - United Nations. 1998. World Population Prospects: The 1998 Revision. New York: UN

ANNEXE I QUESTIONNAIRE FOR OUTPUT: FOOD SECURITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO WOMEN AND VULNERABLE GROUPS IN POST -CONFLICT COUNTRIES IN WEST AFRICA I. Contribution of rural women to food production, processing and marketing

a. Food production 1. Whaat were the roles of women in the production of the following food items in the pro-

conflict period?

(i) Upland rice (ii) Swamp rice (iii) Palm oil (iv) Fishing

2. What changes have occurred pertaining to the roles of women in the production of the

following food items in the conflict and post-conflict periods?


3. What were/are the reasons for the changing roles of women in food production in the

conflict and post-conflict periods. b. Food Processing 4. What were the roles of women in the processing of the following food items in the pre-

conflict period ?


5. What changes have occurred pertaining to the roles of women in the processing of the



6. What were/are the reasons for the changing roles of women in food production in the conflict and post conflict periods.

c. Food marketing 7. What were the roles of women in the marketing of the following food items in the pre.

conflict period?


8. What changes have occurred pertaining to the roles of women in the production of the



9. What were/are the reasons for the changing roles of women in food marketilg in the

conflict and post conflict periods. 10. Describe the activities of women's organizations involved with food production and/or

processing and marketing, highlighting issues, e.g., history, objectives, management, source of funds, food production/processing/marketing activities, constraints and main achievements.

II. Contribution of urban women to food production, processing and marketing 11. What were the roles of urban women in urban agriculture in the pre-conflict period? 12. What changes have occurred pertaining to the roles of women in urban agriculture in

the conflict and post-conflict periods and the reasons? 13. What were the roles of urban women in marketing food stuff in the pre-conflict period? 14. What changes have occurred pertaining to the roles of women in marketing foodstuff in

the conflict and post-conflict periods and the reasons? 15. What were the roles of urban women in processing of foodstuff in the pre-conflict

period? 16. What changes have occurred pertaining to the roles of women in processing foodstuff

in the conflict and post-conflict periods and the reasons? 17. Identify constraints the following group of women encounter with respect to access to

land, labour, capital, technology, credit and extension.

(i) Rural women (ii) Urban women (iii) Female heads of households

III. Women and environmental management 18. Identify the roles of women in natural resource utilization e.g., water, forests and land. 19. Identify the roles of women in natural resource (e.g., water, forests and land)

management (e.g., tree planting, terracing of hills) and cases of mismanagement (e.g., over utilization of natural resources ).

IV .Other Vulnerable Groups 20. Identify constraints displaced persons encounter in fulfilling their food needs with

respect to access to land, labour, capital, technology, credit and extension. 21. Identify constraints refugees encounter in fulfilling their food needs with respect to

access to land, labour, capital, technology, credit and extension. 22. Identify environmental problems refugees have caused in fulfilling their food needs. V .Strategies and Innovative Initiatives 23. Summarize the main Components of national strategies on food security and

sustainable development 24. Summarize the main Components of sectoral strategies on food security and

sustainable development: Agriculture, Gender, Ministry of Population, Planning Economic, Planning and Development

25. Identify the level of involvement and responsibility of Women in the design and

implementation of strategies on food security and sustainable development. I 26. Identify strategies on food security and sustainable development geared towards the

enhancement of the roles of Women in food security. 27. Identify strategies on food security and sustainable development geared towards the

enhancement of the roles of female heads of households, displaced persons and refugees in food security.

ANNEXE II EXEMPLARY FOOD SECURITY PROJECTS IN MRU COUNTRIES NAME OF ORGANIZATION: Tawopaneh Agricultural Women Association LOCATION: Brimalane-Rotifunk, Lungi, Kafubulom, Chiefdom. HISTORY /DESCRIPnON : Tawopaneh agricultural women association was formed in 1989 in Freetown. In 1990, the programme decided to move to Lungi in Kafulom chiefdom in order to undertake agricultural activities. The first swamp the project leased was 10 acres. In 1997, the organization acquired more swamp land. The total members in Sumbuya was 150 beneficiaries. Konakridy village is one of the sound agricultural oriented villages. In this village artisanal fishing has been undertaken. The organisation is working currently with 500 beneficiances in 8 villages. MANAGEMENT: The organisation is headed by a manager and with one central chairlady and branch chairladies who are supervised by the executive. OBJECTIVES: .To improve the living conditions of women communities .To improve agricultural activities in the project area of operation and the target group .To increase the income earning capacity of the target beneficiaries .To help to promote literacy in the organisation .To improve the nutritional status of the target group and the community at large .To promote vocational activities like tailoring and designing ACTIVITIES: .Swamp rice production and artisanal fishing .Sell rice, vegetables and fish .Process rice produced .Promote literacy, vocational education. CONTRAINTS: .Migration of people from other villages/refugees .Movement of working force to urban areas (Freetown) .Lack of funding agencies ACHIEVEMENTS: .The production of our food items

.The organization has one boat with fishing gears assorted .The organization has been able to construct its office .ARD supported the organization with vegetable seeds and price seeds inputs .Organization was provided with cash to pay in kind or cashing return FUNDING: .The organization gets its funds through raising activities, monthly contribution of members, registration of members .Very little funds from NGOs only food for work .Sell seeds inputs to NGOs .Sell vegetables and fish harvested NAME OF ORGANIZATION: People United to Save Humanity (PUSH) LOCATION: Makossa, Lungi, Kaffu Bullom chiefdom, Port Loko District, Sierra Leone D ESCRIPTIO N : .A women's organization. The organization was formed in 1994 .The project area covers 15 chiefdoms in 7 districts of Sierra-Leone .In Kaffu Bullom chiefdom it has 800 members (farm families) MANAGEMENT: The project has project coordinators at chiefdom level and a chairlady and executive members at circle capacity. The chairlady and executive supervise all activities and report to the chiefdom coordinator, who in turn reports to the main office. OBJECTIVES: .To foster the role of education in rural communities .To involve women in agriculture and empower them to be self-sustainable .To promote health activities in the rural communities (i.e training of midwives on delivery and child protection) .To facilitate human right activities .Swamp rice production .Marketing of food commodities produced .Promotion of health, education and human rights in rural communities CONTRAINTS:

.Problem of supplying seeds inputs often during the planting season .Transportation of proceeds to the market centres .Transportation of planting materials to target beneficiaries ACHIEVEMENTS: .Education: Rehabilitation of damaged schools by rebels .Agriculture: Supply of seeds inputs .I. C. R. C. Supply of seeds inputs and tools. .F.A.O: Seeds inputs and cassava cuttings .W.F.P: Food for agriculture, provide potato vines, and also provide training to target group: FUNDING: .The organization gets its funds through monthly contributions, registration of members and through the sales of its products .Its gets also its funds through funds raising activities sometimes food donors agencies i.e I.C.R.C, M.A F and M.A, Ministry of Education NAME OF ORGANIZATION: The Liberia Marketing Association (LMA) WCATION: Monrovia, Liberia HISTORY /DESCRIPTION: The organization is not exclusively limited to women, but they run the organization. They hold the reign of power. The LMA is a nationwide organization with branches in very heavily populated urban areas. The LMA was founded in 1970s. Its main area of concentration is the marketing of locally produced food items in the urban area. MANAGEMENT: It is headed by a superintendent who has always been a woman. The Board of Directors appointed by the Government (Ministry of Internal Mfairs) OBJECTIVES: Markets locally produced food items in urban areas ACTIVITIES: Marketing of locally produced food items in urban areas CONTRAINTS: Not enough funds for expansion and improvements of LMA 's warehouses and markets. ACHIEVEMENTS:

Plays a pivotal role in the storage and marketing of locally produced food items in urban areas. FUNDING: .The association generates funds through membership fees, fees for market stalls, small fees for storage .The government erects the major market

report on food security and sustainable...

Documents