2012 Global Hunger Index Launch Event "The Challenge of Hunger: Ensuring Sustainable Food Security Under Land, Water & Energy Stresses" by Mathias Mogge (Welthungerhilfe) October 18, 2012

1. How Pressure for Land Transforms
Rural Livelihoods in Sierra Leone

2. How Pressure for Land Transforms Rural Livelihoods
2

3. How Pressure for Land Transforms Rural Livelihoods
Facts & Figures
- Sierra Leone‘s 2012 GHI is „alarming“ (24.7)
- Majority of the population depends on small-scale farming for its
livelihood (between 50 and 60 percent)
- Government of Sierra Leone promotes agricultural modernization by
means of mechanization and commercialization
- Between 2008 and mid-2012, almost 1 million hectares of farmland
across the country were leased or under negotiation for lease (approx.
20 percent available agricultural area)
- Most projects are export-oriented
- Arguments for large-scale FDI: agricultural modernization, overall
positive outcomes, availability of vast areas of unused land

4. How Pressure for Land Transforms Rural Livelihoods
SAC Investment in Pujehun District - Figures
- Investor: Socfin Agricultural
Company Sierra Leone Ltd
(SAC), a subsidiary of the
corporation Socfin registered in
Luxemburg
- Leased area: 6,500 hectares; for
the production of oil palm and
rubber
- Duration of lease: 50 years (i.e.
2061, possible extension for
another 21 years)
- 24 villages are situated within
the concession area

5. How Pressure for Land Transforms Rural Livelihoods
SAC Investment in Pujehun District - Concerns
- Intransparent process of land acquisition, local land owners and users
were not involved in the decision making process
- Land was not „unused“, but previously used for farming, hunting &
collection of non-timber forest products, grazing
- Expectations of local communities – e.g. better job opportunities, access
to improved education – have not materialized so far (only seasonal
work, day labour)
- Compensation only for tree crops, rent payments are low (12.50
USD/ha/year), 50 percent of rent payment is going to the Government
- Food prices in the affected region rose by 27 percent on average
between May 2011 and May 2012
- Consequence: Fall in both food quality and quantity at household
level
- Rapid transformation process resulting in widespread feelings of anxiety

6. How Pressure for Land Transforms Rural Livelihoods
Promoting Alternatives to Large-Scale Investments
- Experiences of Welthungerhilfe show that smallholder
agriculture – even when production is „atomized“ among farms
with average farm size of 2.4 ha – has good economic
potential, example: Cacao cooperative Eastern Sierra Leone
- But: scaling-up remains a challenge; must be supported through
corresponding policies and strategies
- New FAO Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible
Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forest can be a
helpful tool for governments, but also for civil society
organisations acting as a watchdog
- Alternative forms of investment are needed where private
investors cooperate with smallholders and smallholders can
participate in the rural transformation process (e.g. certain
models of contract farming)

7. How Pressure for Land Transforms Rural Livelihoods
Sony Jina, Sinjo village, Malen Chiefdom
.
“Today I have a quarter of what I used to have.
The food situation is far worse than before,
because there is no more farming. We used to
eat two times a day; now we eat only once a
day and we have to buy everything” 7