Report on food security and sustainable development: strategies for enhancing food security in the MANO river union countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone

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 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 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.