Tag Archives: Sierra Leone

According to allcountrylist, Sierra Leone is a small West African country with a population of 7,175,000 and a nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $3.6 billion. The economy of Sierra Leone is heavily reliant on agriculture and the extractive industries, particularly diamonds. Agriculture accounts for approximately 40% of the country’s GDP and employs about 70% of the labor force. Mining and quarrying account for about 25% of GDP, with diamonds being the main mineral resource. The majority of Sierra Leone’s exports are diamond related, including rough diamonds, cut diamonds, and jewelry. The manufacturing sector plays an important role in the economy as well, though it accounts for only a small portion of GDP. Manufacturing includes beer production, soap production, textiles and apparel production, timber processing and furniture making. The services sector makes up the remainder of GDP and includes banking services, transport services (including airlines), telecommunications services (telephone/Internet/mobile), real estate activities, retail trade activities (including restaurants), tourism activities and construction activities. The government has implemented several initiatives to promote economic growth in Sierra Leone such as encouraging foreign direct investment (FDI), improving infrastructure such as roads and bridges as well as providing access to electricity in rural areas. Additionally, Sierra Leone has signed several regional trade agreements such as ECOWAS (Economic Community Of West African States) which allows for free trade between member countries within West Africa thereby increasing access to markets outside its own borders. In addition to this Sierra Leone is also part of the African Growth Opportunity Act which provides tariff-free access to US markets for certain products originating from eligible countries including Sierra Leone. The history of agriculture in Sierra Leone dates back to the early 19th century when subsistence farming was the main form of food production. Crops such as millet, sorghum, maize, groundnuts and cassava were grown while livestock such as goats and sheep were also kept. During the colonial period, agricultural production shifted towards a more commercial model with plantations becoming common. This saw an increase in crop yields and productivity while exports of cash crops such as cocoa, coffee and palm oil also rose. In the post-independence period, agricultural production continued to be dominated by cash crops but subsistence farming remained important for local consumption. This was further bolstered by initiatives from the government which saw increased investment in infrastructure such as irrigation systems and improved access to markets for farmers. In addition to these traditional crops, other products produced include fish, honey, spices and timber while livestock farming is also popular with cattle being the most common type of animal reared. In recent years there has been an increased focus on sustainable agricultural practices which has seen a shift towards organic farming methods. The government has implemented various initiatives to promote organic farming including providing subsidies for organic inputs such as compost and establishing certification schemes for organic produce. These initiatives have helped reduce environmental degradation associated with traditional farming methods while also allowing for increased crop yields which have helped fuel economic growth throughout Sierra Leone. See collegesanduniversitiesinusa for Sierra Leone Education and Training.