SUPPLY CHAIN SURV EY TO IDENTI N TRADITION AL...
Transcript of SUPPLY CHAIN SURV EY TO IDENTI N TRADITION AL...
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DISCLAIMER This publication was produced for review by the Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA) However, the results presented and views expressed in this report are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not in any way engage SLIEPA
TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ………………………………………………………………….. CHAPTER 1. THE FRAMEWORK FOR NON TRADITIONAL EXPORTS .................. 1 1.1: Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1
1.2 Trade Policy ................................................................................................................................... 1
1.3 Trade Balance ................................................................................................................................ 2
1.4: Agricultural Sector Performance: ................................................................................................ 3
1.5: Identification of Potential Non Traditional Export (NTE) Commodities for Sierra Leone ............ 4
1.6 Description of Category 1 NTE Products ....................................................................................... 6
1.7 Description of Category 2 NTE Products ....................................................................................... 8
CHAPTER 2. PRODUCTION STUDY OF SELECTED NTE COMMODITIES ........... 13 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 13
2.2 Methodology of farm survey ...................................................................................................... 13
2.2 Use of Inputs ............................................................................................................................... 15
2.3 Returns ........................................................................................................................................ 22
2.4 Marketing of NTE ........................................................................................................................ 23
2.5 Comparative Advantage Studies ................................................................................................. 24
2.5.1 The Base Model ...................................................................................................... 25 2.5.2 Effect of increased costs ......................................................................................... 25 2.5.3 Effect of increased productivity .............................................................................. 25
CHAPTER 3. CONSTRAINTS AND MARKET PROSPECTS FOR SELECTED NTEs …………………………………………………………………………….28 3.1 The Supply Chain of NTEs ............................................................................................................ 28
3.2 Situation Analysis ........................................................................................................................ 29
3.2.1 Land ........................................................................................................................ 29 3.2.2 Water ....................................................................................................................... 30 3.2.3 Production Technology Services ............................................................................ 30 3.2.4 Planting materials.................................................................................................... 30 3.2.5 Machinery and labour ............................................................................................. 30 3.2.6 Agrochemicals ........................................................................................................ 31 3.2.7 Packaging materials ................................................................................................ 31 3.2.8 On-farm production: ............................................................................................... 31 3.2.9 Transportation ......................................................................................................... 31 3.2.10 Export Marketing .................................................................................................. 33 3.2.11 Agricultural Finance Services .............................................................................. 35 3.2.12 Meeting Standards for Nontraditional Exports: .................................................... 36
3.2.13 Power Supply ........................................................................................................ 38 3.2.14 Port Facilities ........................................................................................................ 38 3.2.15 Training ................................................................................................................. 38 3.2.16 Nontraditional Export Crops Production Programme - Risk Analysis: ................ 38
CHAPTER 4. INDICATIVE BUSINESS PLANS FOR NTEs ........................................ 40 4.1 Indicative Business Plan for Modern Processing and Export of Honey ...................................... 40
4.1.1 Objectives ............................................................................................................... 40 4.1.2 Keys to Success....................................................................................................... 41 4.1.3 Company Ownership .............................................................................................. 41 4.1.4 Start-up Summary ................................................................................................... 41 4.1.5 Product .................................................................................................................... 42 4.1.6 Market Analysis Summary ..................................................................................... 42 4.1.7 Production and Sales Forecast ................................................................................ 42 4.1.8 Management and Personnel Plan ............................................................................ 43 4.1.9 Profitability ............................................................................................................. 44 4.1.10 Projected Cash Flow ............................................................................................. 45 4.1.11 Projected Balance Sheet ........................................................................................ 45 4.1.12 Business Ratios ..................................................................................................... 46
4.2 Indicative Business Plan for Modern production, Packing and Export of Pineapples ................ 47
4.2.1: Objectives: ............................................................................................................. 48 4.2.2 Mission .................................................................................................................... 48 4.2.3 Keys to Success....................................................................................................... 48 4.2. 4 Company Ownership ............................................................................................. 48 4.2.5 Start-up Summary ................................................................................................... 48 4.2.6 Products................................................................................................................... 49 4.2.7 Market Analysis ...................................................................................................... 49 4.2.8 Sales Strategy .......................................................................................................... 49 4.2.9 Management and Personnel Plan............................................................................ 50 4.2.11 Projected Profit and Loss ...................................................................................... 51 4.2.12 Projected Balance Sheet ........................................................................................ 54 4.2.13 Business Ratios ..................................................................................................... 54
CHAPTER 5. NON TRADITIONAL EXPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR SIERRA LEONE …………………………………………………………………………….56 5.1 Developing a NTE Policy .............................................................................................................. 56
5.2 Commodities to be produced ..................................................................................................... 56
5.3 Who should produce the commodities ...................................................................................... 56
5.4 How NTEs should be produced ................................................................................................... 57
5.5 Markets for which NTEs should produced: ................................................................................. 58
5.6 Summary of Policy Recommendations ....................................................................................... 58
ANNEX 1 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………60
ANNEX 2 ………………………………………….………………………………………………………………………………………………64
ANNEX 3 ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐70
LIST OF TABLES Table 1.1: Recent Export/Import data for Sierra Leone (US $ ‘000) ....................................................... 2 Table 1.2: Sierra Leone Exports to 12 Lead Coumtries in 2008 .............................................................. 3 Table 1.3: Contributions of major agricultural sub‐sectors to Agricultural GDP (percent) .................... 3 Table 2.1: Important Districts for production of NTE commodities in Sierra Leone ............................ 13 Table 2.2: Characteristics of sample households in NTE supply side survey ........................................ 14 Table 2.3: Proportion of producers Using Inputs (percent) and average quantities used by farmers using the input in NTE Commodities in Sierra Leone, 2009 Season ..................................................... 16 Table 2.4: Proportion of Farmers Using Hired Labour (percent), Quantities Used by Farmers Using Hired Labour (person days and Average Wage Rates (Leones per person per day) in NTE Commodities in Sierra Leone, 2009 Season .......................................................................................... 17 Table 2.5: Proportion of Producers Using Family Labour for a given activity (percent), Quantities Used by Producers Using Family Labour (person days) in NTE Commodities in Sierra Leone, 2009 Season ................................................................................................................................................... 21 Table 2.6: Cost and Returns in Production of NTE Commodities in Sierra Leone, 2009 Season .......... 22 Table 2.7: First point of sale and average price received by NTE producers ........................................ 23 Table 2.8: Customers of producers (percent of households) ............................................................... 23 Table 2.9: Wholesale prices of selected NTE commodities .................................................................. 24 Table 2.10: Estimated competiveness of selected NTE commodities in Sierra Leone using traditional technologies (Base Model) ................................................................................................................... 26 Table 2.11: Estimated competiveness of selected NTE commodities in Sierra Leone with increased costs of production and transportation ................................................................................................ 26 Table 2.12: Estimated competiveness of selected NTE commodities in Sierra Leone with increased yields ..................................................................................................................................................... 27 Table 4.1: Start up Expenses and Investment for honey processing and export company .................. 41 Table 4.2: Sales Forcast for honey processing and export company .................................................... 43 Table 4.3: Staffing of honey processing and export company .............................................................. 43 Table 4.4: Projected profit and loss for honey processing and export company ................................. 44 Table 4.5: Projected cash flow for honey processing and export company ......................................... 45 Table 4.6: Balance Sheet for honey processing and export company .................................................. 46 Table 4.7: Business ratios for honey processing and export company ................................................. 46 Table 4.8: Start‐up capital requirements for Pineapple company ........................................................ 48 Table 4.9: Sales forcast for pineapple company ................................................................................... 50 Table 4.10: Personnel plan for pineapple company ............................................................................. 51 Table 4.11: Projected profit and loss for pinapple company ................................................................ 52 Table 4.12: Projected cash flow of pinapple company ......................................................................... 53 Table 4.13: Projected Balance Sheet for pineapple company .............................................................. 54 Table 4.14: Business Ratios for pineapple company ............................................................................ 54
LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1: Role of Respondents in EDS NTE Farm Survey .................................................................... 14 Figure 2.2: Level of education of respondents ..................................................................................... 15 Figure 3.1: Hierarchy of processes in NTE supply chain ....................................................................... 28 Figure 3.2: Elements of the Supply Chain for fresh vegetables ............................................................ 29 Figure 3.3: Reccomended cold chain for export of fruits .................................................................... 32 Figure 4.1: Performance highlights of honey processing and export company. .................................. 40 Figure 4.2: Performance Highlights of pineapple production and export company ............................ 47
LIST OF ACRONYMS
AGOA Africa Growth and Opportunity Act ARSO African Organization of StandardsBSI British Standards Institution CFAO Compagnie Francaise d ‘Afrique Occidental CIF Charged Insurance and FreightCOMTRADE United Nations Statistics Division – Commodity Trade Statistics Database DRC Domestic Resource Cost EBA Everything But Arms ECOWAS Economic Community of Wset African States EDIF Export Development and Investment Fund of GhanaEDS Enterprise Development Services Ltd EFC Export Finance Company of Nigeria EMQAP Export Marketing and Quality Awareness Project of Ghana EU European Union EU‐ACP European Union – African, Caribean and Pacific FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FFS Farmers Field School FOB Free on Board GSB Ghana Standards Board HACCP Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point HAGDI – SL Humanist Action for Grassroots Development Initiative ‐ Sierra Leone IACO Inter‐African Coffee OrganizationICO International Coffee Organization IEC Import Export Code ISO International Standards Organization ITC International Trade CommissionKEBS Kenya Bureau of StandardsLDC Less Developed Country MDA Ministries Departments and Agencies MOTI Ministry of Trade and Industry MOU Memorandum of Understanding MRU Mano River Union NEPAD‐AU New Partnership for African Development – African Union NGO Non Governmental Organization NIST National Institute of Standards and TechnologyNTE Non Traditional Export PAM The Policy Analysis Matrix PD Person Days PTB Physikalisch-Technische BundesanstaltPZ Peterson Zochonis SABS South African Bureau of Standards SLICASS Sierra Leone Cassava Variety SLIEPA Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion AgencySLIPOT Sierra Leone Sweet Potato variety SLNSC Sierra Leone National Standards Council SLPMB Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Board SLSB Sierra Leone Standards Bureau SON Standards Organization of Nigeria
LIST OF ACRONYMS
STABEX Stabilization of Export Earnings (EU-ACP countries)TBT Technical Barriers to Trade UAC United Africa Company UK United Kingdom UNCTAD United Nations Committee on Trade and developmentUSA United States of America WHO World Health Organization WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization WTO Wortl Trade OrganizationWTO World Trade Organization
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Objectives and Methodology The general objective of the study is to encourage growth and improve the competitiveness of Sierra Leone in non‐traditional agricultural exports with a view to diversifying the national export base and increasing the incomes of small farmers and export earnings of the country. To meet the objectives of this survey, EDS adopted the following approach and methodology:
1. Conduct research into the export markets for Non Traditional Export (NTE) of agricultural commodities that are being successfully produced and exported from tropical countries with similar climatic regimes as Sierra Leone, especially in Africa.
2. Identify NTE agricultural commodities that are currently exported from Sierra Leone, their geographical distribution according to areas of production, sizes of holdings, quality and yields etc, how they are exported, export volumes, destinations and prices received, and constraints faced by producers and exporters.
3. Assess the competitiveness and comparative advantage of the locally produced NTE agricultural commodities against the same products from other ECOWAS exporting countries going into the major international markets including other ECOWAS countries.
4. Identify a short list of NTE agricultural commodities that are not currently exported in Sierra Leone but are in high demand in important international markets and other ECOWAS states that should be promoted for production and export to in ECOWAS markets and beyond.
5. Investigate the technical and financial feasibility of competitively diversifying local production into newly identified NTEs.
6. Study the current supply chain for NTEs from growers in ECOWAS and other developing countries to consumers in the importing countries and design an efficient supply chain for NTE crops producers in Sierra Leone as the origin of supply.
7. Develop strategies for a viable, sustainable and growth oriented export trade in NTEs, including an analysis of the infrastructural, financial and technical requirements in the value chain of these NTEs
The Framework for Non Traditional Export Commodities Sierra Leone has been performing very poorly in international trade over the last 20 years. The poor performance has been due in the recent past partly to the unfavourable balance of trade in agricultural goods in the period 2000 to 2008. This imbalance is made worse by unfavourable terms of trade related to fall in the world market prices of the country’s exports, especially the price of coffee and the steep rise in the price of imported rice and other agricultural imports. Cocoa has the greatest promise for export due to a strong export market and quality improvements that are taking place under the STABEX programme and private sector initiatives Sierra Leone currently has a relatively open and liberal trade policy in compliance with her regional (ECOWAS) and other multilateral trade commitments. Its’ major export market is Europe accounting for about half of total merchandise trade, with the USA, India, Mexico, and China also being major individual trading partners. Recorded regional trade is insignificant. These findings are of significance for the Development of the NTE Sector in Sierra Leone, as they indicate that: a) the European market should be prioritized in the development of a national NTE strategy b) the US, Indian and Chinese markets should also be targeted in the NTE market development strategy.
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Agriculture accounts for around 70% of total employment and contributes over 40% of the GDP. Agricultural production is still mainly subsistence and only about 30% of crop production enters the commercial trade. Production is mainly on smallholdings of less than 2 hectares per farm family. Only about 25% of family farms are 3 hectares and above. The country still has a deficit of about 30% in the production of the national staple, rice. Potential NTEs for Sierra Leone Through consultations with the principal client SLIEPA and other major stakeholders including the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security, the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the management of the Rural and Private Sector Project, the following definition was adopted ‐ NTEs are products of Sierra Leone that are tradable but have so far not been consistently produced in significant volumes for the purpose of being officially exported and the export of which has not been organized and carried on for any significant period of time and recorded in the official trade statistics of the country. The following tradable commodities of agricultural origin were identified as potential NTEs for Sierra Leone: Fresh vegetables (String beans, Plum tomatoes, Cabbage, Okra, Cucumbers); Cut leafy vegetables (Potato leaves, Cassava leaves, Crain crain, Green); Fruits (Mangoes, Pineapples); Roots and tubers (Sweet potatoes, Cassava); Tree Crops (Kola nuts, Cashew nuts, Coconuts); Processed products (Mango juice, Garri, Honey, Bees wax, Coconut milk); Other food crops (Sesame Palm oil, Rice); Prospective products (Moringa, Jatropha). From the above list five Category 1 products (String beans, Sesame, Pineapples, Kola nuts, and bee honey) were investigated for priority development as NTE products. All have established production possibilities and market opportunities that could be competitively pursued. The production possibilities for the commodities were investigated, a model supply chain for their production and marketing as export commodities is proposed, and generic business plans are developed to establish the financial viability of modern production of two of the most promising products (medium scale production, processing and export of honey and pineapples)
NTE production for the domestic market There is no data on production and trade of any of the Category 1 NTE commodities. This is a lacuna that should be corrected as part of any effort to promote the export of the selected NTEs. In this study a sample of producers of each commodity was interviewed using a structured questionnaire to collect input‐output, processing and marketing data String beans is the only NTE commodity in which the use of modern inputs is common with almost a third of producers using fertilizers and about a quarter paying some form of rent for land. As expected the use of hired labour is common in all systems, especially for land clearing and harvesting. Wage rates vary by activity, with higher rates for the more demanding activities such as land clearing and ploughing. They also vary by commodity, being generally higher in Kolanut and honey production, both of which are perennial commodities. Total cost of hired labour is between two to five times higher among pineapple producers compared to other commodities showing that it is the most cash demanding NTE commodity. And unlike the situation in staple food crop production, NTE producers employ more hired labour than family labour during the year pointing to the fact that these commodities are cash crops. Returns to family labour are positive and high for all commodities except Sesame where the returns are negative. For the four commodities the returns are several times the going wage rates, and are
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also much higher than those earned by staple food crop and traditional export crop producers. Production of String beans, kolanuts, pineapples and honey for the domestic market using existing technologies is therefore highly profitable. Producers mainly sell their output in the villages in which they reside, and most sales are to traders who take possession in the villages. Farm gate sales are virtually unknown except among a tiny fraction of honey producers. It is common practice among commercial vegetable producers in Koinadugu District that they form groups and designate one or more members of the group to transport their produce to designated traders in Freetown who act as retailers for group members, the same way as the Cooperative members do. Export Potential of Category 1 NTE commodities The economic opportunity costs for products and inputs are used to determine social profitability for the NTE commodities. The economic value, or efficiency price, of tradable inputs (fertilizer, hired labour, financing costs), as well as the commodity produced, are evaluated using Belgian CIF prices being the most representative of European prices, adjusted to FOB Freetown prices as the relevant point of comparison. Economic values of non‐tradable inputs are broken down into their tradable and non‐tradable factor components. All the NTE commodities except Sesame have comparative advantage in exporting to the European market (the regional market in the case of Kolanuts), using existing technologies with Derived Resource Cost (DRC) ratios significantly under 1.0. The analysis confirms that Sesame should not be considered for promotion as a NTE commodity unless production systems are drastically changed ‐ even with the doubling of yields without any increase in base costs Sesame still has a DRC above 1.0, indicating that Sierra Leone would still not have a comparative advantage in exporting the commodity. A simulation of the effect of doubling the costs of production i.e. doubling hired labour wage rates and fertilizer, as well as the cost of transportation of the commodity to the Freetown port, with all other parameters remaining the same, showed that although producer returns decline, with the exception again of Sesame, DRCs still remain under +1.0, indicating that Sierra Leone will continue to have a comparative advantage in exporting the commodities. Constraints and Market prospects A situation analysis of input and output issues reveals the state of readiness of the sector to embark upon the development of NTE commodities. Major issues include the following: Production technology services ‐ The production of horticultural products like pineapples and string beans for export is very demanding due to the very high quality standards of the export markets. It is very important that the right varieties are adopted and planted to produce the right products for the identified markets. Extension services are required to introduce new cultivars of crops that are in current demand. These services are currently not available in the country for all of the recommended crops to be grown Planting materials ‐ Sierra Leone does not have a functioning commercial seed sector and must rely on importing certified seeds of most crops for planting. Consequently, most producers of selected potential NTE crops do not use improved seed varieties and other high yielding planting materials because they are often not available in their communities
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Packaging materials ‐ The development of a Non Traditional Export programme will create a demand for packaging materials that has hitherto not existed due to the limited domestic value addition to farm products. A few local manufacturers now import packaging materials from abroad including West African countries. The demand that will be created for packaging materials by the NTE programme will create investment opportunities for at least one or two packaging materials production plants in the country. Investors should be encouraged and supported to undertake investment in this vital industry in the country. On‐farm production ‐ At the pilot and expanded phases, NTE crops production should be undertaken by smallholders with plot sizes that they could effectively manage given the resources available to them, including managerial capacity. To achieve economies of scale, the producers should be organized into producer associations or cooperatives which should develop their farms in the same locations for effective collaboration and efficient delivery of technical and financial services, including business planning. Transportation and the cold chain ‐ Transportation and logistics support are very important elements in the supply chain of agricultural commodities. Fresh horticultural products are, in most cases, highly perishable requiring appropriate crating and suitable equipment for safe transportation from field to packaging houses and from the packaging houses to holding storage prior to shipment. Immediately after harvest, most fresh fruits and some vegetables should be stored and transported in a cold chain to retain their freshness and degree of ripeness at harvest, up to the time of delivery at the retail point. This process largely determines the shelf life of the products at the point of sale in the importing market. Export marketing ‐ Processing, packaging, marketing and export of NTE crops should be undertaken by a Fruit and Vegetable Export Marketing Company. This limited liability company would be owned by the producers, as shareholders but managed on their behalf by an independent technical management team. Agricultural finance services ‐ A national NTE development programme will create a substantial demand for financial services along the entire domestic supply chain of each of the commodities. Sierra Leone currently lacks an institutional system for agricultural financing. Meeting international standards for NTE commodities ‐ Government has the primary responsibility for setting and maintaining national standards in the safety of food products for export that correspond to international standards. The institutional framework for standards in Sierra Leone comprises the Standards Bureau (SLSB) and the National Standards Council (SLNSC). A fully functional central laboratory needs to be created and equipped and along with regional laboratories, provide testing services, national metrology coverage, standards testing and quality management activities. Power supply ‐ Although the demand for electricity of a NTE programme in fruits and vegetables would not be that significant, the maintenance of a cold chain is essential especially for fresh fruits and vegetables and would require reliable power supply. Indicative Business Plans for modern NTE enterprises Although Sierra Leone currently has a comparative advantage in the production of prospective NTE commodities for supply of the European and regional markets, use of traditional production technologies results in products that may have difficulty entering the European market. Indicative business plans have therefore been prepared for medium scale production and processing of two of
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the most promising commodities – honey and pineapples using modern technologies. The results show that production to meet European standards would be very profitable. For processing and export of honey, the main objective of the Company would be to purchase raw honey directly from bee keepers and process it to international specifications for sale to both the domestic and export markets. Total funding requirements for establishment of a company employing about 15 persons are estimated at $0.43m, with annual export sales of $2.7m in the first year, rising to $3.9m in Year 3. Annual net profits are projected at $0.76m in Year 1 rising to $1.27m in Year 3, with Net Worth of the company rising from $1.16m at the end of Year 1 to $3.45m at the end of Year 3 For production, packaging and export of pineapples, the objectives of the Company would be to produce pineapples to international standards for the export market in fresh fruits, support the Government's policy of involving the private sector in agricultural development, and to improve the incomes and livelihoods of pineapple farmers. Total funding requirements for a company employing about 130 permanent staff would be $0.48m. Annual export sales would be $3.7m in Year 2 rising to $5.14m in Year 5. Net profits would be $(‐)1.52m in Year 1, $1.5m in Year 2, rising to $3.1m in Year 5, with Company Net Worth of $(‐)1.07m in Year 1, increasing to $9.57m in Year 5. Non Traditional Export Development Strategy This study shows that Sierra Leone has market opportunities and comparative advantage in undertaking the development of a number of agricultural products for export of pineapple, string beans, kola nuts and honey. To promote development of these potential NTEs as well as other commodities a strategy should be put in place consisting of, but not limited to the following:
1. Pilot projects should be implemented in the development of small holder NTE commodity production units, organized in selected geographic locations and producer associations, centrally supported. A detailed pilot project document should be developed for pineapple production in Moyamba District, vegetable production in Koinadugu District and honey in Bombali and Koinadugu Districts.
2. A central project implementation unit should be established, comprising of at least one expert in agronomy and large scale production of each selected product and headed by an experienced agribusiness manager, with extensive local experience.
3. Certified planting materials should be imported and tested before dissemination. Arrangement should be made to multiply planting materials locally where this is feasible.
4. An NTE export marketing company should be established and provided with adequate resources to handle the safe collection, processing, certification, packaging, labelling, storage and shipment of the products.
5. Financial services as shall be prescribed in the pilot project document should be available from a dedicated financial institution. Initially Government guarantee may be provided to local commercial banks for loans to registered NTE export producers.
EDS – NTE Study
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SUPPLY CHAIN SURVEY TO IDENTIFY NON TRADITIONAL EXPORTS AND MARKET
OPPORTUNITIES
CHAPTER 1. THE FRAMEWORK FOR NON TRADITIONAL EXPORTS
1.1: INTRODUCTION
Sierra Leone has been performing very poorly in international trade over the last 20 years, long before the start of the civil war. In the period before and immediately after independence in 1961 the country had a thriving trade in agricultural commodities undertaken by the private multinational companies like Peterson Zochonis (PZ), the United Africa Company (UAC), the Compagnie Francaise d ‘Afrique Occidental (CFAO) etc. These firms purchased produce from small producers including palm kernel, palm oil, cocoa, coffee, piassava, ginger and rice, which were exported mainly to Europe. However, as early as 1949 Government started to intervene in the trade by creating a monopoly export marketing board, the Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Board (SLPMB), ostensible to regularize the trade and stabilize the prices farmers received for certain scheduled commodities. The attainment of political independence marked the beginning of the decline of the lucrative agricultural export trade of the country, as the multinational firms withdrew from the trade and many closed down their operations and left the country. In an attempt to sustain the trade and avoid its complete collapse, the SLPMB embarked on the establishment of a network of buying depots and stores and operated a fleet of vehicles to replace the marketing functions that the multinational companies performed. The Board also set about developing its own plantations and oil mills throughout the country. These turned out not to be wise, transparent and successful investments with hugh losses that led to the demise of the Board itself and its eventual closure. 1.2 TRADE POLICY
Sierra Leone currently has a relatively open and liberal trade policy in compliance with her regional (ECOWAS) and other multilateral trade commitments. The customs tariff is Sierra Leone's main trade policy instrument and customs duties account for about 45% of total government revenue. However, export procedures remain complicated and lengthy. Exports of gold and diamonds are subject to specific procedures and are allowed only through registered and approved exporters. A certificate of origin, under the Kimberley process is still mandatory for the export of rough diamonds. Plants and charcoal exports are restricted for environmental reasons. A 2.5% export tax is levied on cocoa and coffee exports. Fiscal incentives are provided for production and trade, including a local‐content requirement on agro‐processing activities. Sierra Leone is a member of a number of regional and multilateral trade organizations; including: ECOWAS, MRU, NEPAD‐AU, UNCTAD, WTO, WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization), ICO (International Coffee Organization), Inter‐African Coffee Organization, ITC and EU‐ACP.
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1.3 TRADE BALANCE
Recent years and attendant events, not least the long period of national unrest, have seen the country’s trade performance continue to deteriorate. Production of export crops have slumped at the same time as many factories have closed down, increasing the number and volume of imported items. A review of Table 1.1 shows Sierra Leone’s continued negative trade balances since the official end of the civil war in 2002 in spite of efforts at rehabilitating agricultural plantations and restarting mining operations. In the last five years, the value of imports shows an upward trend while exports fluctuate consistently below the value of imports. In 2008, the last year for which published data are available, the value of exports declined by 16.5% while imports grew by 12%, worsening the trade balance.
Table 1.1: Recent Export/Import data for Sierra Leone (US $ ‘000) 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Export 236,452 230,397 289,408 399,016 333,376
Import 466,650 519,009 476,820 607,112 680,984
Trade balance 230,198 338,612 187,412 208,096 347,736
Source: ITC Calculations based on COMTRADE Statistics.
Sierra Leone has had an unfavourable balance of trade in agricultural goods in the period 2000 to 2008. This imbalance is made worse by unfavourable terms of trade related to fall in the world market prices of the country’s exports, especially the price of coffee and the steep rise in the price of imported rice and other agricultural imports. Cocoa has the greatest promise for export due to a strong export market and quality improvements that are taking place under the STABEX programme and private sector initiatives. Export of certified organically produced cocoa and Fair Trade cocoa is increasing by producers’ cooperatives in eastern Sierra Leone with assistance of private sector exporters and buyers. The process has been supported by technical assistance under the STABEX programme of support for the production of organic cocoa for export. There is also evidence of substantial growth in informal export trade with neighbouring countries in food commodities, especially palm oil, kola nuts, rice and cocoa from plantations along the Liberia and Guinea borders. This unrecorded trade, involves large volumes and values of products such as kola nuts and rice, which are commodities with a large regional demand. Ecologically Sierra Leone has comparative advantage in the production of these commodities for trade within the ECOWAS region. Tables 1.2 below shows that Sierra Leone’s major export market was Europe accounting for 52% of total merchandise valued at US $170 million in 2008. The USA, India, Mexico, and China were also major individual trading partners. Recorded regional trade was insignificant. But this is attributable to the fact that most regional trade is still unrecorded and informal, especially trade going through land borders. These findings are of significance for the development of the NTE Sector in Sierra Leone, as they indicate that: a) the European market should be prioritized in the development of a national NTE strategy, and b) the US, Indian and Chinese markets should also be targeted the NTE market development strategy.
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Table 1.2: Sierra Leone Exports to 12 Lead Coumtries in 2008 Destination Exports (US$m) % Share 2008 2008 World 333.0 100.0 Europe 170.2 51.6 France 99 29.8 Germany 32 9.7 Netherlands 14 4.3UK 10 3.1 Czech Republic 7 2.2 Switzerland 5.6 1.7 Portugal 1.6 0.5Other Europe 1.0 0.3 Non‐Europe 127.5 38.2USA 57.8 17.3India 50.4 15.1 Mexico 14.0 4.2 China 5.3 1.6Rest of World 35.3 10.2
Source: ITC statistics 1.4: AGRICULTURAL SECTOR PERFORMANCE:
Agriculture accounts for around 70% of total employment and contributes over 40% of the GDP (Table 1.3). Agricultural production is still mainly subsistence and only about 30% of crop production enters the commercial trade. Production is mainly on smallholdings of less than 2 hectares per farm family. Only about 25% of family farms are 3 hectares and above. The country still has a deficit of about 30% in the production of the national staple, rice. The low agricultural output has caused increases in food prices and decline in real incomes. The costs of basic foodstuffs increased by over 400% during the war years (1991‐2002). However, since 2002, there have been improvements in crop production partly due to the resettlement of the internally displaced population and their resumption of farming activities in their communities. Crops such as cassava, sweet potato and groundnuts have recorded rapid post conflict recovery, due to the assistance of NGOs in rural communities.
Table 1.3: Contributions of major agricultural sub‐sectors to Agricultural GDP (percent) Sub‐sector 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Crops 25 29 28 30 32 32 31 32 Livestock 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Forestry 6 5 5 4 4 4 4 3 Fishery 7 7 8 9 9 8 8 8 Total 40 44 44 46 48 47 46 46
Source: Statistics Sierra Leone
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The Government of Sierra Leone is increasing its funding levels for agricultural sector activities from 1.6% of its national budget in 2008 to 7% in 2009 to 10% in 2010 with the potential to reach 20%. Currently production is primarily in the hands of smallholders. Commercial scale farming and value addition is limited in number and capacity. Food security and declining soil fertility are critical issues. Total agricultural exports increased from US$ 0.31 million in 2001 to US$ 2.66 million in 2003 due to resumption of exports of coffee and cocoa from rehabilitated plantations after the war. Cocoa export registered the biggest rise, increasing from US$ 0.27 million to US$ 2.59 million between 2001 and 2003. However, the deficit in rice production remains the greatest challenge to national food security. Although government statistics show increases in local rice production over the last three years, importation of rice has nonetheless been increasing over the same period, 2006 to 2008 instead of falling. 1.5: IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL NON TRADITIONAL EXPORT (NTE) COMMODITIES FOR SIERRA LEONE
The first step of the NTE study was to identify what the potential NTEs of the country are. Through consultations with the principal client SLIEPA and other major stakeholders including the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security, the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the management of the Rural and Private Sector Project, the following definition was arrived at ‐ NTEs are products of Sierra Leone that are tradable but have so far not been consistently produced in significant volumes for the purpose of being officially exported and the export of which has not been organized and carried on for any significant period of time and recorded in the official trade statistics of the country. A large number of agricultural and horticultural products, artefacts, precious and semi‐precious minerals, etc, qualified for consideration under this definition. However, for the purpose of this study, which is a component of the Rural and Private Sector Development Project , the definition was further narrowed down to agricultural and horticultural products. Even then only tradable products of agricultural and horticultural origin were selected. The following commodities were identified as potential NTEs for Sierra Leone: Fresh vegetables: String beans Plum tomatoes Cabbage Okra Cucumbers Cut leafy vegetables Potato leaves Cassava leaves Crain crain Green Fruits: Mangoes Pineapples Roots and tubers: Sweet potatoes Cassava Tree Crops: Kola nuts
Cashew nuts Coconuts
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Processed products: Mango juice Garri Honey Bees wax Coconut milk Other Staple food crops/products Palm oil Rice Prospective products Moringa Jatropha (for biofuel) From the above list two categories of NTEs were selected for investigation with regards to their potential to become major export commodities: Category 1: Five products identified and investigated in this study for development as NTE products based on the following criteria:
• The products are currently commercially produced. • There is a large number of producers producing them. • There is a good domestic market for the products • The development of the supply and value chains of the product will result in substantial
benefits to producers and other value chain actors. These five products (String beans, Sesame, Pineapples, Kola nuts, and bee honey), all have established production possibilities and market opportunities that could be competitively produced. The production possibilities for the commodities were investigated during a field survey. A model supply chain for their production and marketing as export commodities is proposed. Finally generic business plans are developed to establish the financial viability of a representative sample of two of the most promising products (medium scale production, processing and export of honey and pineapples)
Category 2: Potential NTE products that require further intensive production and market studies to ascertain the technical and economic feasibility of promoting their development as export commodities through cost effective investment in their production. These commodities fall into one or more of the following classifications that would make their immediate selection for export development risky:
a) They are food crops: availability of enough surplus production, sufficient for any serious volumes to be exported without jeopardizing local food supplies is uncertain (Example: Cassava , sweet potato, rice);
b) The bulk of current production is from wild plants: Supplies of these are unmanageable,
unpredictable and unsustainable (coconut, mango, banana);
c) Delicacies: Their international market is sophisticated and it would require a great amount of work and cost to produce to current international market quality standards (cashew);
d) They are highly perishable: Most green vegetables fall in this class. They require very
delicate handling which will take some time in being mastered. Nonetheless, they are to be
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considered for future development for export when local producers have succeeded in meeting and fully understanding the requirements of the importing markets for the Category 1 products.
Category 2 commodities are Cassava chips, Garri, Sweet Potato, Cashew, Cabbage, Cucumber, coconut, Mango, Banana, Tomato, and Sweet Pepper. Brief agronomic and commercial characteristics for Category 1 and 2 commodities are outlined below, for the benefit of potential producers that may wish to explore investment opportunities in any of them. 1.6 DESCRIPTION OF CATEGORY 1 NTE PRODUCTS
1. String/French beans Phaseolus vulgaris
The common bean ‐ the botanical name Phaseolus vulgaris means just that ‐ was unknown to the Old World before Columbus brought them back from the Americas over five hundred years ago. String beans got their name from a string‐like fibre that runs the length of the bean which had to be removed before cooking. Modern varieties have been bred to eliminate this problem.
The plant requires a warm sunny area in a rich well‐drained preferably light soil with plenty of moisture in the growing season. It dislikes heavy, wet or acid soils and prefers a pH in the range 5.5 to 6.5. The French bean is commonly cultivated in the temperate and subtropical zones and in valleys of the tropics for its edible mature seeds and immature seedpods. It is often grown to provide a major part of the protein requirement. A very variable plant, there are more than 1,000 named varieties ranging from dwarf forms about 30cm tall to climbing forms up to 3 metres tall.
When grown for their edible pods, the immature pods should be harvested regularly in order to promote extra flower production and therefore higher yields. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, which form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby. When removing plant remains at the end of the growing season, it is best to only remove the aerial parts of the plant, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release their nitrogen.
Immature seedpods can be eaten raw or cooked. The green pods are commonly used as a vegetable. They have a mild flavour and should only be cooked for a short time. When growing the plant for its seedpods, be sure to pick them whilst they are still small and tender. This will ensure the continued production of more pods by the plant. Flowering is reduced once the seeds begin to form inside the pods. The immature seeds are boiled or steamed and used as a vegetable. The mature seeds are dried and stored for future use. They must be thoroughly cooked before being eaten and are best soaked in water for about 12 hours prior to this. They can be boiled, baked, pureed, ground into a powder. The powdered seed makes a protein‐enriching additive to flour.
The green pods are mildly diuretic and contain a substance that reduces blood sugar level. The dried mature pod is used in the treatment of diabetes. The seed is diuretic, hypoglycaemic and hypotensive. Ground into flour, it is used externally in the treatment of ulcers. The seed is also used in the treatment of cancer of the blood. When bruised and boiled with garlic they have cured intractable coughs. The root is dangerously narcotic. A homeopathic remedy is made from the entire fresh herb. It is used in the treatment of rheumatism and arthritis, plus disorders of the urinary tract.
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2. Pineapple: (Ananas comosus),
Pineapple is one of the most important fruit in the international fruit trade because of a larger world wide demand. The most important commercial varieties are smooth Cayenne, Red Spanish, Sugar loaf, Queen, Abakka, Elenthera, Singapore Spanish, Golden yellow or MD2 and Cabezona. The fruit has a high sugars content and provides a good source of vitamins A,B and C. It also contains bromelin which aids in digesting meats. Pineapple propagation is by suckers which are removed from the plans after fruiting and allowed to dry one week or more before planting to prevent rotting. The suckers are treated with Aldrin to control white grubs. For good growth, the soil should be well harrowed after treatment and plants should be spaced apart with alleys between. The crop is grown in a wide range of soil types, most commonly however, on latosols of varying parent material. Most essential soil feature is good drainage. Soil p H should be in the range of 4‐6. Pineapple responds well to fertilizer treatment.
3. Sesame (Sesamum indicum)
Sesame is an ancient oilseed, first recorded as a crop in Babylon and Assyria over 4,000 years ago. Sesame seeds are unusually high in oil, around 50% of the seed weight, compared to 20% seed oil in soybeans. Sesame is a fairly high value food crop, being harvested both for whole seed used in baking, and for the cooking oil extracted from the seed. This warm season annual crop is primarily adapted to areas with long growing seasons and well drained soils. It is considered drought tolerant, but needs good soil moisture to get established.
Sesame is a broadleaf plant that grows about 5 to 6 feet tall, with height dependent on the variety and growing conditions. Large, white, bell‐shaped flowers, each about an inch long, appear from leaf axils on the lower stem, then gradually appear up the stem over a period of weeks as the stem keeps elongating. Depending on the variety, either one or three seed capsules will develop at each leaf axil. Seed capsules are 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, with 8 rows of seeds in each capsule. Some varieties are branched, while others are unbranched. The light colour seeds are small and flat, with a point on one end. Seed size varies, but one report indicates that sesame has roughly 15,000 seeds per pound.
The primary market for sesame in the U.S. is use in a variety of baked goods and confections. Part of the attraction of sesame for baking is undoubtedly its high fat (50% oil) and high protein content (up to 25% protein by weight). Sesame oil carries a premium relative to other cooking oils and is considered more stable than most vegetable oils due to antioxidants in the oil. After the oil is extracted from the seed, the remaining meal is a high protein material suitable for feeding to livestock. Although at this time sesame oil is used almost exclusively for human food consumption, it has potential for a variety of industrial uses, as do most vegetable oils.
4. Kola (Cola nitida, cola acuminata) Commonly called Kolanut, Cola nitida is the variety usually grown for commercial purposes. Kola contains about 2 percent caffeine and is chewed as a stimulant. A mature kola tree reaches a height of 12 ‐15m. It has a smooth bark with longitudinal cracks. The trunk is straight and branches after several meters. The leaves are large, simple prominently veined, leathery. They are arranged alternately on the stem. They are dark green, but copper colour when dry. The flowers are male or hermaphrodite, small, cup‐shaped. The fruit consists of a star‐shaped group of pods or follicles which are usually 5 in number. The pod is wrinkled and boat‐shaped. Each pod contains 4‐10 seeds. Kola grows best on fertile, well‐drained, deep soil; but it needs a less clayey soil than does cacao. It is
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used in the manufacture of the cola group of beverages – Coca cola, Pepsi cola and Krola. In Western Africa it is widely consumed as a stimulant and often provided as traditional offering on most traditional ceremonial occasions.
5. Honey Honey is a sweet food made by certain insects using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees (the genus Apis) is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans. Honey produced by other bees and insects has distinctly different properties. Honey bees form nectar into honey by a process of regurgitation and store it as a food source in wax honeycombs inside the beehive. Beekeeping practices encourage overproduction of honey so that the excess can be taken without endangering the bee colony. Honey gets its sweetness from the monosaccharides fructose and glucose and has approximately the same relative sweetness as that of granulated sugar (74% of the sweetness of sucrose, a disaccharide) It has attractive chemical properties for baking, and a distinctive flavour which leads some people to prefer it over sugar and other sweeteners. Most micro‐organisms do not grow in honey because of its low water activity of 0.6. However, honey sometimes contains dormant endospores of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which can be dangerous to infants as the endospores can transform into toxin‐producing bacteria in the infant's immature intestinal tract, leading to illness and even death. Honey has a long history as an edible food item and is used in various foods and beverages as a sweetener and flavouring. It also has a role in religion and symbolism. Flavours of honey vary based on the nectar source, and various types and grades of honey are available. It is also used in various medicinal traditions to treat ailments. The study of pollens and spores in raw honey (melissopalynology) can determine floral sources of honey. 1.7 DESCRIPTION OF CATEGORY 2 NTE PRODUCTS
1. Cassava
Cassava, Manihot esculenta (Crantz) Commonly called Yuca, or manioc is one of the most widely grown crops in Sierra Leone. The most popular variety is SLICASS 1– 6. The crop has many uses among which are:
• Cassava tuberous roots can be boiled and eaten directly or processed into gari, foofoo or starch
• The leaves can be eaten as fresh vegetable used in the preparation of the ever‐popular cassava leaf sauce.
• Dried cassava in the form of meal, chips and pellets has been an important animal feed ingredient.
• It could be used as feed for the production of non‐intensive swine, poultry and in fish farming.
• Dried and fresh cassava can be used to produce glues and alcohol. • Cassava flour is made either from fermented and dried cassava roots or dried chips. • Cassava starch is used directly in different ways or as raw material for further processing. It
is used in preparing baby foods, non‐allergenic products and food for hospitalized persons. Modified cassava starch can compete with other starches for the production of starch for
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sizing paper and textiles, glues and adhesives, sweeteners, pharmaceutical dustings and disintegrating pills, biodegradable products, butanol and acetone, explosives and corrugated boxes.
Cassava is a perennial crop, although in agriculture, farmers usually harvest it during the first or second year. Abandoned stands of cassava may continue to grow for several years and most often in association with other crops. Cassava grows on a wide range of soil types but does best on soils that allow for easy tubulisation, adequate expansion of the tuberous roots and ease of harvesting. According to the Land Resources Survey of Sierra Leone, suitable soils are of loamy sand to clay loam textures, depths greater than 50 cm, good to imperfect drainage, acidic to slightly acidic reaction (optimum pH 5 – 6). It has very low tolerance to salinity and no tolerance to water logging. The fertility requirement is moderate, but it can be produced on poor soils. This crop is cultivated throughout the country. Cassava roots and leaves constitute very important sources of food in Sierra Leone. Marketing opportunities for cassava in the rural areas are inadequate; the increased cassava production and food diversification drive have contributed to the increased demand in the urban areas. With the recent trend in cassava production, local consumption demand will be met as cassava is increasingly becoming a cash crop. The larger export market for processed cassava products like chips, flour, gari, pellets and starch has to be targeted to prevent the likely fall in local market price due to increased production. Appropriate markets have to be identified and the link established to exploit such marketing opportunities.
2. Sweet Potato Ipomoea batatas L.(Lam) Sweet Potato is a tuber crop almost as widely grown as cassava in Sierra Leone. The most popular varieties grown are SLIPOT 1– 4. Both the young leaves and vine tips serve as vegetables and are consumed by most households. They are good source of calcium, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and pro vitamin A. The storage roots are eaten boiled, roasted, fried or powdered for use in pastries and baby foods. In addition, sweet potato can serve as an industrial raw material in the starch industry. It also has the potential to be processed into gari, confectionery (biscuits, candies) and food colour additives. A very refreshing and low‐cost soft drink can also be prepared from sweet potato. Varieties vary from decumbent or spreading to types in which the leaves stand erect; the erect ones usually yield more heavily. Tubers also vary widely with variety, with skin colour ranging from reddish‐purple to yellow and white, and flesh colour from greyish‐white to yellow tinged with pink. The flesh may be floury or firm. The tubers vary from small and round (100g) to large elongated or irregular shaped (2‐10kg).Suitable soils for sweet potato are of loam to clay loam textures, depth greater than 50 cm, good to imperfect drainage, acidic to neutral reaction (optimum pH 5 ‐6). It has no tolerance to salinity and water logging. The best soil for sweet potato production is a well‐drained sandy‐loam. It has a moderate to high fertility requirement. This crop is cultivated throughout the country. The demand for sweet potato tubers and leaves, especially in the urban areas is large but the market is not adequately organized. In some areas, daily markets predominate while farm gate marketing is common in other areas. Freetown is the most important urban market followed by Bo. A substantial portion of the tubers produced is sold while the remainder is consumed. The potential for the industrial use of sweet potatoes (especially high yielding improved varieties) exist but is currently not being exploited. Value added activities are limited to preparing into other food forms. Substantial savings can be accrued by substituting part of the imported wheat flour with sweet potato flour in pastry products.
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3. Cashew Anacardium occidentale L. Farmers in Sierra Leone usually cultivate cashew seeds from Gambia, Guinea, Mozambique and local adaptable varieties. The juice from the fruit can be processed into soft drinks or fermented into wine; the cashew apple, when fully ripe, may be eaten raw, or preserved as jam or sweetmeat; the roasted nuts are used in the confectionary industry; a pale yellow, bland, edible oil, resembling almond oil can be extracted from the nut. From the shells or hulls is extracted a black, acrid, powerful vesicant oil, used as a preservative and water‐proofing agent in insulating varnishes, in manufacture of typewriter rolls, in oil‐ and acid‐proof cements and tiles, in brake‐linings and for termite proofing timbers; timber derived from cashew trees is used in furniture manufacturing, boat building, packing cases and in the production of charcoal; stems exude a clear gum utilized in pharmaceuticals and as substitute for gum Arabic; the sap from the bark is used in tanning and it provides an indelible ink; along the coastal regions, cashew plantation can be used as shelter‐belts and wind breaks; various parts of the plant are used as remedies for calluses, corns, and warts, cancerous ulcers, dysentery, fever and elephantiasis. There is a wide variation in the weight, size and juice content of the apples as well as the size of the nuts. Larger apples usually have larger nuts and higher juice content while yellow apples are less astringent, heavier and softer than red apples. Nuts of high density usually give better germination, more vigorous seedlings and produce a higher yield than those from nuts of low density. Suitable soils are of sandy to loam texture, good drainage, devoid of sub‐surface hard rock or hard pan, acid reaction (pH 4 – 5). Cashew can tolerate short periods of water logging but not salinity. The fertility requirement is low, but it performs better on good soils than on poor soils. This crop is cultivated throughout the country, especially in the North‐Western region. The potential for good returns from cashew production is high in view of the fact that the input and management requirements are low compared to the value of the output. Imported roasted cashew nut is commonly sold in supermarkets. A crop, which was considered only useful for soil conservation, afforestation and for development of waste lands, has today assumed a status of an important cash crop and foreign exchange earner in Sierra Leone.
4. Cabbage, Brassica oleracea var. Capitata Commercial varieties: O‐S Cross, succession, perfection drumhead, Wisconsin Hollander and premium flat Dutch have the best yields and they mature in 90 days in the mountains and 76 days in the lowlands (Heads are smaller in the lowlands). Soil type preference is fertile, deep, well‐drained, and sandy and silt loam soils. A soil p H level of around 6.5 or slightly above is desirable for efficient use of fertilizer and soil nutrients, and for reducing development of soil‐borne diseases. Cabbage is normally grown at higher elevations. It is successful at moderately cool temperatures at any elevation but seldom makes good heads at sea level within the Tropics. They are also suitable for freezing, canning or pickling. When kept cool and moist, they will store for several weeks after harvest.
5. Cucumber, Cucumis sativus. Commercial varieties include Table green, Ashe, Fletcher, Polaris, and Market more and local. Cucumbers are fast growing plants that respond dramatically to good husbandry. In the lowland tropics vines are finished in about 10 weeks. At higher latitudes and hill sides they may last as long as 16 weeks. The crop is usually grown on an A‐frame trellis as yields are much higher than when the vines trail over the bed. Cucumbers climb by means of tendrils and, once established on the trellis
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will climb and branch freely, generally without aid. It is necessary, however, to tie the plants to the trellis poles in the initial stages. Delaying this operation reduces yield.
6. Coconut, Cocos nucifera. Cross‐pollination has resulted in a great number of varieties. These are distinguished on the basis of color, size and shape. Dwarf coconuts bear early and give high yield. The crop grows throughout the tropical world and has become important as the source of copra and coconut oil. Coconut can withstand brackish water and commonly are seen growing along the sandy tropical coasts. The crown of the coconut plant is the most characteristic feature. When mature it consists of up to about 50 large radiating fronds bearing rows of some 100 leaflets on each side of a tough rachis. The leaflets are all oriented in one plane, unlike the oil palm. All the leaves and stem tissues arise from the single apex located within the crown. Coconut requires a well‐ drained soil for proper root development. The trees do well in low areas where the water table is relatively high, provided the water table fluctuates to allow sufficient aeration for proper root development. This crop is cultivated throughout the country. The need to increase earnings from coconut has, however, resulted in the investigation of a whole range of actual and possible by‐products. From the coconut water, alcohol, sugar and acetic acid are obtainable. Coconut press‐cake is, of course, used in animal feeds, and more recent investigations have shown that coconut can produce a high quality protein concentrate for human food as well as cheese‐like product.
7. Mango, Mangifera indica. Commercial varieties include Carrie, Edward, Earlygold, Fascell, Lippens, Julie, Sandersha and Manila. Marketing of the mango fruit has been greatly hindered because of the fruit fly. It is necessary to be sure that the fruit fly is not introduced into free areas. Fumigation with methyl dibromide is effective. This crop is cultivated throughout the country.
8. Banana, musa spp. (m. accumilata and m. balbisiama). The commercial varieties are Ladies finger, Honey, Pisang Mas, Johnson, Canary banana, Sucrier, Dwarf Cavendish and giant Cavendish. It is one of the healthiest fruits, rich in potassium, vitamins and minerals. The aerial parts of the banana plant consist of the crown of foliage leaves and their bases which combine to produce an aerial stem‐like structure called the pseudostem. The true stem is small and composed of compacted internodes in the vegetative state, but become elongated within the pseudostems at the time of flowering to protrude and eventually bear the fruit bunch. Bananas are grown on a great variety of soils ranging from alluvial flood plains to inland latosols of the tropics; from organic peat soils to volcanic loams and grumusols or ‘black cotton soils’. The most important feature in babana soils is probably drainage, so that heavy clay soils with poor drainage should be avoided. The fruit is one of the most important agricultural products in international trade. This crop is cultivated throughout the country.
9. Tomato: Lycopersicum esculentum, Tomato is the second most important vegetable after potato. It is grown for its edible fruits which can be eaten raw in salads, cooked, peeled, or made into puree, ketchup, soup or powder in canning industries. In West Africa tomatoes are used as condiment for the stews which are a regular feature of African meal. The commercial varieties are Roma, Red top, Indian river, Hawaiian hybrids, San marzano and hottest. The best plants are 6 – 10 inches tall with stems of pencil‐size. Smaller plants
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can be used but more care is needed in getting them established. Topping or pruning the larger plants reduces yields. Larger plants can be produced by covering at least two‐thirds of the length of the stem in the soil when transplanting. The crop is grown in a wide range of soil types, most commonly however, on latosols of varying parent material. The most essential soil requirement for good growth is good drainage. This crop is cultivated throughout the country.
10. Sweet Pepper: Capsicum annum var. Grossum Sweet pepper is grown in a wide range of soil types, most commonly however, on latosols of varying parent material. Most essential soil feature is good drainage with low organic matter. It grows best on mounds on well‐drained alluvium rich in humus and with p H of 5.5. Important commercial varieties are ‘Green ace’, farmers evergreen, new ace, yolo wonder and California wonder. The plant is a perennial climbing vine that can attain a height of 10m. It has an extensive mat of surface feeding roots; the leaves are simple and alternate; and the fruit is a sessile drupe. The value of the crop depends a great deal on the size and quality of the fruit. Sweet pepper is ground and used in powder form and also used in the ketchup and meat‐processing industries. This crop is cultivated throughout the country.
Box 1: Case Study of a Cassava project in Ghana Cassava is a very important crop cultivated widely throughout the country and was initially selected for detailed investigation for export development and promotion. However during field survey in Ghana it was discovered that a cassava production and processing project had been attempted there which failed. A state of the art factory was established in the Central Region of the country by a public‐private partnership to process cassava into chips and starch for both the local and export markets which foundered. Interviews with people associated with the project indicated that the following factors contributed to the problems the project encountered:
1. The price at which cassava was delivered by farmers to the factory was dependent on the market price of food cassava. This had adverse effects on the competitiveness of the factory.
2. 2 .Volumes and regularity supply of the feedstock to the factory. 3. The yield of cassava per hectare was considered as too low to make the factory competitive. The
highest yield in Ghana is 64.4tons/hectare compared to higher yields in countries such as Thailand. 4. High transportation costs of the bulky cassava products to markets in Europe and Asia. 5. The project Plantation/Farms could not secure a minimum of 60% of feedstock for the factory
resulting in dependence on outgrower farmers. From the lessons learned in the survey, it was decided that the industrial production of cassava be approached with caution after a thorough study to avoid the pitfalls that the Ghana project encountered. For example:
11. The Strategy should be to develop a project that produces value‐added products such as ethanol and starch for export and not bulky cassava chips etc.
12. A nucleus plantation should produce a minimum of 60% of feedstock for the factory. Out growers must not be relied upon for the supply of more than 40% of the feedstock requirement of the processing plant. This strategy will greatly influence the prices the out growers will demand.
13. High yielding varieties of cassava should be grown, which will ensure adequate volumes, regularity of supply and prices of the feedstock to the factory.
14. Appropriate Infrastructure should be developed as a support mechanism to the project with the objective of creating wealth and providing employment for workers.
15. Finally appropriate Technology must be employed in the production process.
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CHAPTER 2. PRODUCTION STUDY OF SELECTED NTE COMMODITIES
2.1 INTRODUCTION
There is no data on production and trade of any of the Category 1 NTE commodities in this study, either in national statistics or in international statistical databases such as FAOSTATS. It was therefore not possible to estimate the volumes of the commodities that might be available for export, as a statistical survey was beyond the scope and duration of the present study. This is a lacuna that should be corrected as part of any effort to promote the export of the selected NTEs. However, even without estimates of production levels, EDS has evaluated the productivity of the existing systems as discussed in this Chapter.
2.2 METHODOLOGY OF FARM SURVEY
The objective of the production study was to determine the efficiency of the existing production systems of the selected NTE commodities. Interviews were conducted with a sample of producers of each commodity in the Districts of Sierra Leone with concentrations of producers of the commodity. The sample Districts were selected based on expert knowledge of the Consultants as well as MAFFS staff as shown in Table 2.1.
Table 2.1: Important Districts for production of NTE commodities in Sierra Leone
Commodity Main Districts
String Beans Koinadugu
Kolanut Kenema, Kailahun, Pujehun
Sesame Tonkolili, Kambia, Port Loko
Pineapple Bo, Kailahun, Moyamba
Honey Bombali, Koinadugu Input‐Output data was collected from a sample of purposively selected households using a questionnaire (See Annex 1). The characteristics of the selected respondents are presented in Table 2.2. Figure 2.1 shows that virtually all respondents were household heads except in the case of String beans producers where as expected; over 30% of the respondents were females, reflecting the importance of women in the production of the crop Figure 2.2 shows that over half of the producers are illiterate. However, the literacy figures compare very favourably with the national average of 38.6% (Thomas, 2007), indicating that NTE producers are among the most literate in the rural population.
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Table 2.2: Characteristics of sample households in NTE supply side survey Commodity Stats Sample Size
(Number) Average Distance to C/dom HQ (Kms)
Average Distance to Village (Kms)
Average Area of Sample Field (Ha)
String Beans 24 Average 8.4 3.0 0.2 SD 3.9 2.5 0.2 Min 3.2 0.8 0.1 Max 16.0 12.4 0.7 Kolanut 30 Average 15.1 1.5 3.8 SD 8.5 1.2 6.2 Min 1.5 0.0 1.0 Max 33.2 4.3 35.4 Sesame 30 Average 13.4 2.0 1.7 SD 8.0 1.2 1.4 Min 4.5 0.3 0.1 Max 27.2 4.2 5.2 Pineapple 33 Average 18.1 1.8 5.8 SD 20.3 1.6 17.3 Min 0.0 0.0 0.2 Max 76.8 8.3 101.0 Honey 35 Average 20.6 3.9 n.a SD 18.1 3.2 n.a Min 0.0 0.0 n.a Max 49.6 16.2 n.a SD = Standard Deviation
Figure 2.1: Role of Respondents in EDS NTE Farm Survey
0102030405060708090
100
Percen
t of H
H
Household Head
Spouse
Child
Other
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Figure 2.2: Level of education of respondents
2.2 USE OF INPUTS
Table 2.3 shows that almost a third of producers of string beans use fertilizers and about a quarter pay some form of rent for land. This is the only NTE commodity in which use of modern inputs is common. As expected the use of hired labour is common in all systems (Table 2.4), especially for land clearing and harvesting. Effective wage rates including the cost of feeding hired labour vary by activity, with higher rates for the more demanding activities such as land clearing and ploughing. They also vary by commodity, being generally higher in Kolanut and honey production, both of which are perennial commodities. Total cost of hired labour is between two to five times higher among pineapple producers (Le 565,406) compared to other commodities showing that it is the most cash demanding NTE commodity.
Not surprisingly, all producers employ unpaid family labour in their operations (Table 2.5) with participation rates being highest in harvesting. Unlike the situation in staple food crop production, producers employ more hired labour than family labour during the year pointing to the fact that these commodities are cash crops.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
String Beans
Kolanut Sesame Pineapple Honey
Percen
t of H
H
Illiterate
Literate
No data
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Table 2.3: Proportion of producers Using Inputs (percent) and average quantities used by farmers using the input in NTE Commodities in Sierra Leone, 2009 Season
Seed Fertilizer Pesticide Land Rent
Mech Plough
Mech Harrow
Other
Kg Cost/Kg Tot Cost Kg Cost/Kg Tot Cost Tot Cost Tot Cost Tot Cost Tot Cost Tot Cost
Tot Material Cost (Le)
String Beans Average 2 11,957 24,188 50 3,700 125,714 6,000 21,200 50,000 20,000 55,000 70,729
SD 3 3,899 25,199 0 600 70,372 1,225 12,552 10,206 4,082 8,165 69,818 Min 1 7,143 5,000 50 2,800 0 0 0 0 0 0 5,000 Max 13 17,857 120,000 50 4,000 200,000 6,000 50,000 50,000 20,000 40,000 215,000
Percent Using 100 29 4 21 4 4 4 Kolanut Average 28,938 0 0 0 0 0 0 28,938
SD 24,573 0 0 0 0 24,573 Min 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Max 100,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 100,000
Percent Using 57 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sesame Average 2 2 8,467 22,500 9,033 0 0 0 10,120
SD 5 6 21,680 3,782 0 22,075 Min 0 0 200 22,500 0 5,000 0 0 0 200 Max 25 28 120,000 22,500 0 12,500 0 0 0 120,000
Percent With 93 3 0 10 0 0 0 Pineapple Average 308,729 146,000 319,157
SD 504,680 0 0 45,429 0 0 506,021 Min 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Max 2,500,000 0 0 260,000 0 0 0 2,500,000
Percent Using 88 0 0 6 0 0 0
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Seed Fertilizer Pesticide Land Rent
Mech Plough
Mech Harrow
Other
Kg Cost/Kg Tot Cost Kg Cost/Kg Tot Cost Tot Cost Tot Cost Tot Cost Tot Cost Tot Cost
Tot Material Cost (Le)
Honey
Average 186,050 186,050 SD 192,158 0 0 0 0 0 0 192,158
Min 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Max 930,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 930,000
Percent Using 66 0 0 0 0 0 0 Source: EDS Field Survey
Table 2.4: Proportion of Farmers Using Hired Labour (percent), Quantities Used by Farmers Using Hired Labour (person days and Average Wage Rates (Leones per person per day) in NTE Commodities in Sierra Leone, 2009 Season
Land Clearing Nursery Work Plough Plant/Transplant Cost/day PD Tot Cost Cost/day PD Tot Cost Cost/day PD Tot Cost Cost/day PD Tot CostString beans Average 4,136 13 54,095 3,000 6 18,000 3,896 13 52,458 2,000 6 12,000SD 1,197 8 41,758 3,674 1,083 9 35,804 2,449Min 2,500 2 0 3,000 6 0 2,500 4 12,000 2,000 6 0Max 7,000 30 180,000 3,000 6 18,000 7,000 40 150,000 2,000 6 12,000Percent Using 88 4 100 4Kolanuts Average 6,833 33 198,778 5,000 2 10,000 7,286 30 209,429 6,000 10 60,000SD 2,337 31 149,127 1,826 1,254 35 133,801 3,606 0 20,611Min 2,000 6 0 5,000 2 0 5,000 2 0 3,000 10 0Max 12,000 140 720,000 5,000 2 10,000 8,000 100 600,000 10,000 10 100,000Percent Using 90 3 23 10Sesame Average 4,571 27 128,089 #DIV/0! 4,462 25 110,750 4,107 15 62,714SD 2,332 16 101,233 0 2,445 16 97,942 1,789 5 39,699Min 2,000 4 0 0 0 0 1,500 5 0 2,000 4 0Max 12,000 78 429,000 0 0 0 12,000 78 429,000 8,000 20 160,000
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Land Clearing Nursery Work Plough Plant/Transplant Cost/day PD Tot Cost Cost/day PD Tot Cost Cost/day PD Tot Cost Cost/day PD Tot CostPercent Using 93 0 87 47Pineapple Average 8,125 32 301,906 0 0 #DIV/0! 6,364 21 148,227 6,615 11 89,769SD 10,592 17 601,495 0 0 0 2,718 13 116,776 3,203 9 71,221Min 3,000 6 0 0 0 0 1,000 4 0 3,000 1 0Max 65,000 60 3,575,000 0 0 0 12,000 60 480,000 12,000 30 250,000Percent Using 97 0 67 39Honey Average 5,300 45 204,300 0 0 0 0 0 0SD 2,225 59 107,474 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Min 2,500 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Max 8,000 150 600,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Percent Using 14 0 0 0Source: EDS field survey; PD = person days
Table 2.4: (Continued)
Weed Water/ Irrigate Bird Scaring Harvest Cost/day Quantity Tot Cost Cost/day Quantity Tot Cost Cost/day Quantity Tot Cost Cost/day Quantity Tot Cost
String beans Average 2,639 11 30,028 2,500 11 26,250 3,192 5 14,962 SD 509 6 19,692 0 1 7,420 0 1,090 3 8,782 Min 2,000 5 0 2,500 10 0 0 0 0 2,000 2 0 Max 4,000 30 75,000 2,500 11 27,500 0 0 0 5,000 13 26,000 Percent Using 79 8 0 54 Kolanuts Average 6,769 27 183,154 1,000 2 2,000 6,533 9 58,800 SD 1,964 19 121,767 365 0 3,884 6 49,167 Min 4,000 6 0 1,000 2 0 0 0 0 2,000 2 0 Max 10,000 80 480,000 1,000 2 2,000 0 0 0 17,500 20 192,500
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Weed Water/ Irrigate Bird Scaring Harvest Cost/day Quantity Tot Cost Cost/day Quantity Tot Cost Cost/day Quantity Tot Cost Cost/day Quantity Tot Cost
Percent Using 47 3 0 50 Sesame Average 4,217 21 104,022 5,000 25 125,000 3,167 12 33,750 SD 2,490 16 120,983 0 22,822 1,693 8 17,873 Min 2,000 2 0 0 0 0 5,000 25 0 1,000 5 0 Max 12,000 70 540,000 0 0 0 5,000 25 125,000 6,000 25 87,500 Percent Using 77 0 3 20 Pineapple Average 6,714 21 150,048 4,875 8 40,333 SD 2,283 19 164,167 3,631 6 31,652 Min 4,000 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,000 1 0 Max 12,000 90 900,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 15,000 20 160,000 Percent Using 67 0 0 36 Honey Average 5,816 8 37,947 SD 3,015 8 24,945 Min 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,500 2 0 Max 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15,000 30 90,000 Percent Using 0 0 0 54
Table 2.4: (Continued)
Threshing Transport Tot PD Hired Tot Hired Labour Cost Cost/day Quantity Tot Cost Unit Cost Quantity Tot Cost
String beans Average 2,364 6 12,091 40 139,396SD 0 674 3 7,331 25 92,011Min 0 0 0 2,000 1 0 10 27,000Max 0 0 0 4,000 12 20,000 109 403,000
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Threshing Transport Tot PD Hired Tot Hired Labour Cost Cost/day Quantity Tot Cost Unit Cost Quantity Tot Cost
Percent Using 0 50Kolanuts Average 5,000 5 25,000 3,600 9 29,800 63 378,964SD n.a 4,564 1,838 5 18,680 61 380,938Min 5,000 5 0 1,000 3 0 0 0Max 5,000 5 25,000 7,000 15 70,000 300 1,800,000Percent Using 3 37Sesame Average 3,000 10 35,667 2,750 7 20,500 78 353,552SD 1,732 5 14,127 1,500 3 9,591 48 295,352Min 2,000 6 0 2,000 3 0 0 0Max 5,000 15 75,000 5,000 10 50,000 226 1,243,000Percent Using 10 13Pineapple Average 2,900 8 24,600 73 565,406SD 1,628 6 22,008 46 682,247Min 0 0 0 1,000 2 0 0 0Max 0 0 0 6,000 20 120,000 215 3,635,000Percent Using 0 48Honey Average 5,300 7 39,867 22 106,386SD 5,756 3 42,912 33 159,320Min 0 0 0 2,000 2 0 0 0Max 0 0 0 25,000 15 250,000 190 925,000Percent Using 0 43
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Table 2.5: Proportion of Producers Using Family Labour for a given activity (percent), Quantities Used by Producers Using Family Labour (person days) in NTE Commodities in Sierra Leone, 2009 Season
Land clearing
Nursery Work Plough
Plant/ Tplant Weed Water
Bird Scaring Harvest Thresh Drying Transport Tot Fam PD
String Beans Average 2 4 2 7 5 3 4 4 3 4 18SD 1 1 2 7 3 2 2 1 2 10Min 1 3 1 2 3 1 4 1 0 2 1 1Max 4 5 6 25 10 6 4 10 0 3 10 44Percent Using 38 29 29 46 46 79 4 71 0 13 71Kolanut Average 6 2 3 6 5 3 6 4 6 21SD 4 1 2 4 3 1 4 1 4 16Min 2 1 1 1 2 2 0 2 3 0 2 4Max 20 4 9 18 9 4 0 20 4 0 20 78Percent Using 67 20 30 50 37 7 0 93 7 0 90Sesame Average 9 4 6 5 8 6 8 5 5 5 34SD 11 1 3 3 4 4 4 2 4 4 15Min 1 3 2 2 2 0 3 2 3 1 2 0Max 48 6 15 10 17 0 11 18 8 14 20 70Percent Using 63 27 60 17 70 0 23 97 23 40 87Pineapple Average 9 4 6 7 6 7 6 31SD 10 3 7 7 8 6 7 37Min 1 1 1 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0Max 35 10 35 35 35 0 0 35 0 0 35 210Percent Using 70 27 64 64 55 0 0 91 0 0 82Honey Average 7 1 4 5 9SD 5 1 3 7Min 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 0Max 15 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 0 0 15 30Percent Using 17 0 0 0 0 0 3 63 0 0 57
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2.3 RETURNS
Table 2.6 shows the output and returns obtained by the NTE producers. Returns to family labour are positive and high for all commodities except Sesame where the returns are negative. For the four commodities the returns are several times the going wage rates, and are also much higher than those earned by staple food crop and traditional export crop producers.1 Production of String beans, kolanuts, pineapples and honey for the domestic market using existing technologies is therefore highly profitable. The comparative advantage of the country for export of these commodities is discussed later. Unless productivity can be substantially increased in Sesame production, in particular an increase in the very low yields obtained by farmers the commodity should not be considered for promotion as a NTE commodity
Table 2.6: Cost and Returns in Production of NTE Commodities in Sierra Leone, 2009 Season Output Cost Returns (Leones) Total Yield To Family Lab Kg Kg/ha Total (Le) Total (Le) Total Per PD Per HaString beans Average 440.9 2,648.2 839,245 210,125 629,120 54,619 3,626,159SD 502.0 3,201.8 955,494 116,445 909,679 87,893 5,709,975 Min 66.0 330.0 125,625 36,000 ‐187,500 ‐9,375 ‐937,500 Max 2,200.0 13,200.0 4,187,500 463,000 3,724,500 341,250 22,625,000 Kolanut Average 963.1 381.0 1,953,040 369,133 1,583,907 90,940 613,707SD 1,262.1 439.1 2,559,454 384,512 2,389,454 112,747 815,040 Min 59.0 20.3 119,644 0 ‐203,356 ‐6,779 ‐70,123 Max 6,040.0 1,725.7 12,248,324 1,810,000 10,872,324 442,312 3,106,378 Sesame Average 39.6 46.3 172,798 351,887 ‐179,089 ‐5,752 ‐317,497SD 37.4 60.1 165,527 307,594 298,864 10,104 509,592 Min 2.0 0.9 0 3,000 ‐898,498 ‐38,232 ‐1,720,425 Max 180.0 252.0 786,438 1,363,000 596,438 18,639 389,434 Pineapple Average 2,025.8a 1,296.9a 3,291,955 819,073 2,472,882 227,083 1,487,114SD 5,576.0 3,924.2 9,060,989 929,618 8,865,068 858,390 6,239,176 Min 36.0 7.1 58,500 43,000 ‐3,195,000 ‐158,500 ‐2,550,000 Max 28,800.0 20,571.4 46,800,000 4,170,000 45,255,000 4,114,091 32,325,000 Honey Average 136.4 n.a 1,531,986 173,186 1,358,800 216,152 SD 301.7 n.a 3,309,785 306,219 3,332,197 683,430 Min 1.0 n.a 0 0 ‐1,390,200 ‐115,850 Max 1,525.0 n.a 17,130,833 1,525,000 16,990,833 2,831,806
a = Number of Fruits; PD = Person days Note: Averages are for farmers producing the commodities
1 Recent farm surveys by EDS revealed that returns to family labour per person day were Le 7,705 ‐ 9225 for cocoa, Le 9660 – 106,533 for coffee, Le (‐)14,660 – 8,996 for oil palm; Le 6790 for mangrove swamp rice, Le 5475 – 7510 for boli rice and Le 4510 – 5950 for inland swamp rice (Sources: EDS PAGE survey of Tree crop production in Kenema, Kailahun and Kono Districts, and EDS Farm Survey in Kambia and Bombali districts for the SEDF Rice Development Project.)
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2.4 MARKETING OF NTE
Data in Table 2.7 show that producers mainly sell their output in the villages in which they reside, while Table 2.8 shows that most sales are to traders who take possession in the villages. Farm gate sales are virtually unknown except among a tiny fraction of honey producers. It is common practice among commercial vegetable producers in Koinadugu District that they form groups and designate one or more members of the group to transport their produce to designated traders in Freetown who act as retailers for group members, the same way as the Cooperative members do. Producers of string beans belonging to the Women’s Cooperative reported that they sold their produce in Freetown through vegetable sellers as Agents.
Table 2.7: First point of sale and average price received by NTE producers Farm Gate Village C/Dom HQ Lumor Mkt. FreetownString beans Average price‐ Le/Kg 1,903 1,742 1,468Percent Using 0 38 13 0 71Kolanut Average price‐ Le/Kg 2,028 0 Percent Using 0 90 0 0 0Sesame Average price‐ Le/Kg 4,369 3,098 3,579 Percent Using 0 50 27 20 3Pineapple Average price‐ Le/fruit 1,625 1,333 2,278 Percent Using 0 64 15 9 0Honey Average price‐ Le/gal 12,000 11,233 11,333 5,000 8,667Percent Using 3 74 9 3 9
Table 2.8: Customers of producers (percent of households)
Commodity Another producer Trader Govt Agencya
String Beans 0.00 87.50 12.50
Kola 0.00 100.00 0.00
Sesame 0.00 86.67 10.00
Pineapple 0.00 87.88 12.12
Honey 2.86 71.43 25.71
a Usually government sponsored projects of NGOs
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2.5 COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE STUDIES
In the preceding section an assessment of financial or "private" profitability has been presented for the selected NTEs for production and sale at the first‐point‐of‐sale, usually the village of residence of the producers. Each system analyzed uses existing technologies, with very little no purchased inputs apart from hired labour. Returns to family labour are presented. In this section economic opportunity costs for products and inputs are used to determine social profitability for the same selection of NTE commodities. The economic value, or efficiency price, of tradable inputs (fertilizer, hired labour, financing costs), as well as the commodity produced, are evaluated using Belgian CIF prices being the most representative of European prices, adjusted to FOB Freetown prices as the relevant point of comparison (Table 2.9). Economic values of non‐tradable inputs are broken down into their tradable and non‐tradable factor components.
Table 2.9: Wholesale prices of selected NTE commodities THE FREETOWN MARKET1 VILLAGE
MARKET2 EXPORT MARKET (CIF Europe)3
EXPORT PARITY (FOB Freetown)4
Name of commodity
Unit of measurement
Unit price (in Le.)5 Le/Kg Le/Unit Le/Kg Le/Kg Le/Kg
1st. 2nd. 3rd.
Sesame Elephant bag 365,000 370,000 370,000 6,167 4,369 n.a. 2,400Butter/flower 1,200 1,100 1,200
Honey Bata 145,000 150,000 150,000 5,000 49,208 1,640 10,400 8,560Pint 3,000 3,000 3,000
Pineapple Dozen 20,000 20,000Single fruit7 2,000 2,000 1,282 1,625 1,042 3,800 2,620
Kolanut
Bulgur bag 50 kg bag Bucket Kg 2,028 n.a. 3,000
String beans Onion bag 41,875 1,903 3,6006 2,4401 Freetown market survey 2 Average from farm survey 3Average 2008/2009 import price in Belgium (Source United Nations Statistics Division – Commodity Trade Statistics Database (COMTRADE), United Nations, 2009; Converted at US$1.00 = Le 4,000 4 CIF Europe – (10% Insurance + Le 800 per Kg port & shipping charges from Freetown. Source: personal communications with shippers), using 20 tons per 40 ft container , except for Kolanut and Sesame for which CIF Europe prices are not available in COMTRADE, where the estimated FOB Freetown prices were obtained from local traders 5 Samples taken in different markets 6 Beans (Vigna spp, Phaseolus spp), shelled/unshelled, fresh/chilled 7 1 fruit = 1.56 kgs (Source: Ghana market survey using 1 box = 12.5kg of 8 fruits)
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The Domestic Resource Cost (DRC) coefficient is used as an indicator of comparative advantage for each commodity in two senses. First, it measures the relative economic efficiency of alternative uses of the nation's resources. Second, it compares the efficiency of resource use between commodities2. In order that the DRC analysis should include sensitivity analysis of border prices, yield, discount rates and transportation costs, etc. The Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) is used (Monke and Pearson, 1989). It allows this study to incorporate all such scenarios, and information on financial and economic prices, costs, profitability, and policy distortions or incentives into a comprehensive framework. 2.5.1 The Base Model
In the base PAM the existing production systems are modelled using the existing, i.e., traditional input and output parameters in Section 2.4. Export parity prices in Table 2.9 are used. Financial cost of capital is 6.25% with the social cost based on the global inflation rate of the US dollar estimated at 2.06%. The results in Table 2.10 show that all the NTE commodities except Sesame have comparative advantage in exporting to the European market (the regional market in the case of Kolanuts), using existing technologies. The analysis confirms that Sesame should not be considered for promotion as a NTE commodity unless production systems are drastically changed. 2.5.2 Effect of increased costs
Table 2.11 shows the effect of doubling the costs of production i.e. doubling hired labour wage rates and fertilizer costs, as well as the cost of transportation of the commodity to the Freetown port, with all other parameters remaining the same. As expected producer returns decline, but with the exception of Sesame, DRCs still remain under +1.0, indicating that Sierra Leone will continue to have a comparative advantage in exporting the other commodities. The effect of increased input costs is higher on string beans than the other commodities because it is the only system in which fertilizers is used. 2.5.3 Effect of increased productivity
Increased productivity of the NTE commodities is simulated by assuming a doubling of yields. The effect a significant increase in financial returns but negligible change in the competiveness of all the production systems compared to the base model because tradable returns increase in about the same portion as non tradable transportation costs especially for the bulky materials such as pineapples (Table 8.4). Even with the doubling of yields Sesame still has a DRC above 1.0, indicating that Sierra Leone would still not have a comparative advantage in exporting the commodity.
2 The Domestic Resource Cost ratio, or DRC, measures the ratio of domestic factors used to produce one unit of a commodity (e.g. labour and capital invested in the production) to the added value generated by this unit of the commodity (i.e. the value of the production minus all the investment costs, e.g. seed, fertilizer, energy, etc). The DRC is estimated using social prices, i.e. prices that would prevail in the absence of government intervention on input and output markets (e.g. subsidies on fertilizer sales price, duty on exports) or market failure (monopoly). If the ratio is greater than one, more domestic resources are invested in producing the commodity than the added value generated by the production activity—there is no comparative advantage in producing the commodity and the domestic resources would be more efficiently utilized if allocated to another productive activity. Conversely, if the ratio is below one, the commodity is produced using less domestic resources than the added value generated—producers of NTE commodities do have a comparative advantage.
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Table 2.10: Estimated competiveness of selected NTE commodities in Sierra Leone using traditional technologies (Base Model)
INDICATORS String Beans Kolanuts Sesame Pineapple Honey1
Farm/Plot Size (ha) 0.21 3.77 1.68 5.82 1.00Family Labour per ha (person days) 84 5 20 5 9Hired Labour per ha (person days) 190 17 47 13 22Yield (Kg per ha) 2,648 381 53 1,337 145Returns to Family Labour per farm (Le) 629,120 1,571,178 ‐159,889 2,575,755 1,400,334Returns to Family Labour per ha (Le) 2,960,564 420,134 ‐106,908 425,049 1,400,334Returns to Family Labour per day (Le) 35,443 77,138 ‐5,327 78,896 146,422Private Profits (Le/kg) (PP) 833 1,298 ‐623 964 489Social Profits (Le/kg) (SP) 1,354 2,236 ‐2,182 3,370 7,264Private Cost Ratio (PCR) 0.35 0.26 ‐1.51 0.38 0.48Domestic Resource Cost Ratio (DRC) 0.27 0.18 ‐0.23 0.16 0.06Nominal Protection Coefficient (NPC)
‐ On tradable Outputs 78.01% 67.60% 182.05% 39.76% 21.87%‐ On tradable Inputs 104.95% 104.12% 110.73% 102.61% 116.55%
Effective Protection Coefficient (EPC) 69.40% 63.99% 14.01% 38.61% 12.10% 1 Input and Outputs for total production Notes: PP = (Private Revenue ‐ Overall Costs @ market prices) SP = (Social Revenue ‐ Overall Costs @ social prices) PCR = (Non‐Tradable Costs) / (Revenue ‐ Tradable Costs) @ market prices DRC = (Non‐Tradable Costs) / (Revenue ‐ Tradable Costs) @ social prices NPC = (Private Revenue @ market prices) / (Social Revenue @ social prices) NPC = (Tradable Costs @ market prices) / (Tradable Costs @ social prices) EPC = (Private Revenue ‐ Tradable Costs @ market prices) / (Social Revenue ‐ Tradable Costs @ social prices) Table 2.11: Estimated competiveness of selected NTE commodities in Sierra Leone with increased costs of production and transportation
INDICATORS String Beans Kolanuts Sesame Pineappl Honey1
Farm/Plot Size (ha) 0.21 3.77 1.68 5.82 1.00Family Labour per ha (person days) 84 5 20 5 9Hired Labour per ha (person days) 190 17 47 13 22Yield (Kg per ha) 2,648 381 53 1,337 145Returns to Family Labour per farm (Le) 418,995 1,189,316 ‐511,776 1,756,683 1,400,334Returns to Family Labour per ha (Le) 1,971,740 315,468 ‐305,506 301,946 1,400,334Returns to Family Labour per day (Le) 23,605 57,921 ‐15,222 56,046 302,612Private Profits (Le/kg) (PP) ‐199 584 ‐4,932 311 ‐700Social Profits (Le/kg) (SP) 276 1,477 ‐6,529 2,658 6,030Private Cost Ratio (PCR) 1.28 0.61 ‐0.18 0.79 4.51Domestic Resource Cost Ratio (DRC) 0.78 0.40 ‐0.14 0.33 0.14Nominal Protection Coefficient (NPC)
‐ On tradable Outputs 78.01% 67.60% 182.05% 39.76% 21.87%‐ On tradable Inputs 102.49% 102.08% 105.52% 101.36% 108.60%
Effective Protection Coefficient (EPC) 55.32% 60.15% 73.32% 37.55% 2.84% Notes: See Table 2.10
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Table 2.12: Estimated competiveness of selected NTE commodities in Sierra Leone with increased yields
INDICATORS String Beans
Kolanuts Sesame Pineapples Honey1
Farm/Plot Size (ha) 0.21 3.77 1.68 5.82 1.00Family Labour per ha (person days) 84 5 20 5 9Hired Labour per ha (person days) 190 17 47 13 22Yield (Kg per ha) 5,284 762 106 2,674 290Returns to Family Labour per farm (Le) 1,468,365 3,524,218 32,109 5,970,584 3,025,167Returns to Family Labour per ha (Le) 6,909,951 934,806 19,167 1,026,247 3,025,167Returns to Family Labour per day (Le) 82,725 171,634 955 190,487 325,988Private Profits (Le/kg) (PP) 1,143 1,438 1,666 1,002 489Social Profits (Le/kg) (SP) 1,649 2,370 ‐115 3,407 7,264Private Cost Ratio (PCR) 0.28 0.24 0.18 0.37 0.48Domestic Resource Cost Ratio (DRC) 0.23 0.17 1.38 0.16 0.06Nominal Protection Coefficient (NPC)
‐ On tradable Outputs 78.01% 67.60% 182.05% 39.76% 21.87%‐ On tradable Inputs 104.95% 104.12% 110.73% 102.61% 116.55%
Effective Protection Coefficient (EPC) 74.29% 65.88% 685.39% 39.19% 12.10%Notes: See Table 2.10
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CHAPTER 3. CONSTRAINTS AND MARKET PROSPECTS FOR SELECTED NTES
3.1 THE SUPPLY CHAIN OF NTES
The supply chain for a NTE is the system of operating units or actors, technologies, processes, information flows and resources involved in delivering that product or service from its initial point of production to the intended end users. The supply chain therefore entails the transformation of inputs or raw materials or basic components through a sequence of activities and processes into the final products, delivered at the point of demand (Figure 3.1). Supply chains link value chains.
Figure 3.1: Hierarchy of processes in NTE supply chain
Figure 3.2 represents a generic product supply chain for export commodities such as fresh vegetables. The arrows indicate the directions of flow of relationships in the management of an agribusiness production system. Supply chains for agricultural and horticultural production for export start with the supply of production inputs.
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Figure 3.2: Elements of the Supply Chain for fresh vegetables
3.2 SITUATION ANALYSIS
The following situation analysis of input and output issues reveals the state of readiness of the sector to embark upon the development of non traditional agricultural exports 3.2.1 Land
A critical factor for an export production programme is the availability of suitable and appropriately located land for economic production. Sierra Leone has a total land area of 7.2 million hectares of which 5.4 million hectares is suitable for agricultural production. At present less than 1 million hectares is cultivated. There is therefore available land for agricultural development by local and foreign enterprises. Foreigners are able to lease land for up to 71 years, on favorable lease terms which are being further improved. A land leasing system that is fair to both investors and local communities has been well established in practice, with active government support. To stimulate nontraditional exports, it would be advisable to start with the development of producer associations of small holders with access to contagious suitable plots of land which could be developed together to benefit from economies of scale in the use of machinery and other production technology. It is also important that the production sites are easily accessible for efficient delivery of inputs and evacuation of products to the ports. This factor is critical to maintain the
WorldMarket
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quality of products, especially where cold chain facilities on farms and at points of shipment are not adequate. 3.2.2 Water
Sierra Leone is located in the humid tropical zone under climatic conditions characterized by year‐round sunshine, warm weather and very high rainfall. The land mass of 72,000 sq km is drained by 9 major river systems, with year‐round flow and large, gently rolling valleys. Most of the country experiences high rainfall approximating 3000 mm annually, with a minimum of 6‐months of wet season in most areas. The intense rainy season generates a positive rainfall balance, limiting irrigation needs. Sierra Leone has never experienced a prolonged period of drought in recorded history. Water availability is not a constraint to the development of nontraditional export crop production. 3.2.3 Production Technology Services
The production of horticultural products like pineapples and string beans for export is very demanding due to the very high quality standards of the export markets. It is very important that the right plant cultivars are adopted and planted to produce the right products for the identified markets. Extension services are required to introduce new cultivars of crops that are in current demand. For example, most pineapple farmers surveyed in Sierra Leone produce the smooth cayenne variety for the fresh fruit market but the variety in current demand by target markets in Europe is now the Golden Yellow or MD2 variety. And whereas local producers plant pineapples on flat land; for good performance and growth, MD2 should be planted on ridges, with the use of plastic foil cover. Production technology services are therefore essential, especially in the initial period when new planting materials are being introduced. These services may not be currently available in the country for all of the recommended crops to be grown. But the required technical services can be provided initially by agronomists from the source of supply of the new cultivars, in collaboration with counterpart agronomists from Njala University and the national extension service. As was the case in Ghana, this would need to be done for the introduction of the new MD2 pineapple variety. 3.2.4 Planting materials
Sierra Leone does not have a functioning commercial seed sector and must rely on importing certified seeds of most crops for planting. Consequently, most producers of selected potential NTE crops do not use improved seed varieties and other high yielding planting materials because they are often not available in their communities. Where the varieties in current demand of crops to be produced for export are not available locally, they should be imported from suppliers of certified planting materials abroad. This procedure would need to be applied in introducing new varieties of crops in the nontraditional export programme. 3.2.5 Machinery and labour
Sierra Leone has a very high population of unemployed youths making wage rates for farm labour very competitive compared to other states in the sub‐region. But although labour rates are low, rural labour is inefficient and unskilled. On farm training should be carried out and supervision should be intensive. The mechanization scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security has introduced a large number of new tractors and implement into the national farming systems along with trained operators and mechanics. The Ministry has plans to enlarge and sustain the scheme. The nontraditional export programme will therefore benefit under the Government’s new agricultural mechanization policy and the Small Farmers Commercialization Scheme by way of the new hire purchase scheme for subsidized machinery, equipment and inputs.
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3.2.6 Agrochemicals
Agrochemical use in Sierra Leone is extremely low and is among the lowest in Sub Saharan Africa. Most production can be classified organic, based on the natural fertility of the soils with some fallow rotation practices in upland rice production. There is no organized system for the supply of essential inputs to farming communities by either the private or public sectors on a sustainable basis. However horticultural production practices for non organic export crops, require substantial fertilizers, pesticides and flowering inducement treatments, to produce products with the preferred appearances, flavors and sizes at the required time to meet supply contract terms. To supply the agrochemicals requirements of a national export production programme will require substantial regular importation and effective distribution of agrochemicals through a network of stockists in the production areas. It will take a well planned and equally well implemented programme to meet this requirement on a national scale. There is therefore an investment opportunity in a national inputs programme in conjunction with the current drive for national self sufficiency in the national staple, rice, which will also create its own demand for fertilizers and herbicides. Initially the nontraditional export programme should make input supply arrangements of its own but it would be advisable to encourage and support private sector partners to undertake this activity on a sustainable basis. 3.2.7 Packaging materials
The development of a nontraditional export programme will create a demand for packaging materials that had hitherto not existed due to the limited domestic value addition to farm products. A few local manufacturers now import packaging materials from abroad including West African countries. The demand that will be created for packaging materials by the nontraditional export programme will create investment opportunities for at least one or two packaging materials production plants in the country. Investors should be encouraged and supported to undertake investment in this vital industry in the country. 3.2.8 On‐farm production:
The above analysis relates largely to the factors of production for nontraditional export crops. They constitute the first segment of the nontraditional export crops supply chain. It is an external segment that determines the production possibility and production cost of the nontraditional export crops. As these inputs are combined in the production process to produce the desired crops, their costs determine the competitiveness of the domestic production of these crops. The inputs enter the internal supply chain of the farm, which consists of three segments starting with the Procurement or Purchasing segment, followed by the Production segment in which the inputs are transformed in the cultivation process into produce and harvested. The final segment of the internal supply chain is the post harvest handling of the harvested crops and its delivery for sale, in wholesome condition and quality to fetch the expected sales revenue. At both the pilot and expanded phases, nontraditional export crops production should be undertaken by smallholders, growing plot sizes that they could effectively manage given the resources available to them, including managerial capacity. To achieve economies of scale, the producers should be organized into producer associations or cooperatives which should develop their farms in the same locations for effective collaboration and efficient delivery of technical and financial services, including business planning.
3.2.9 Transportation
Transportation and logistic support are very important elements in the supply chain of agricultural commodities. Fresh horticultural products are, in most cases, highly perishable requiring
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appropriate crating and suitable equipment for safe transportation from field to packaging houses and from the packaging houses to holding storage prior to shipment. Immediately after harvest, most fresh fruits and some vegetables should be stored and transported in a cold chain to retain their freshness and degree of ripeness at harvest, up to the time of delivery at the retail point. This process largely determines the shelf life of the products at the point of sale in the importing market.
The length of the cold chain depends on the available facilities and infrastructure. Typically after harvesting, freshly cut products are delivered to a packaging house for sorting, grading, packing labeling and storage in a cold store. The cold store could be close to or within the precincts of the port of shipment, in which case after loading pallets of the product into refer containers rom the cold store to the shipping vessel. An example of a cold chain for fruits is given below (Figure 3.3) to illustrate the recommended system.
Figure 3.3: Reccomended cold chain for export of fruits
Box 2: CASE OF EXPORT OF FRESH PINEAPPLES IN GHANA For fresh pineapple export, grading is by size and colour of fruit. Size is denoted by the number of fruits that make up 12.5 kg approximately and ranges from 12 fruit per box of approximately, the smallest exportable size, to 6 fruits per box, the largest. Colour grades are denoted by the degree of ripeness at harvest. There are 4 colour grades: M1= a quarter ripe M2 =half ripe M3 =three‐quarters ripe M4= fully ripe European markets demand sizes 7 and 8 counts per box and colours M1 and M2. Grading lines are are available, which selects fruits by sizes but colour selection is done visually. In packing for export all the fruits in each 12.5 kg box must be of the same sizes and colour and all the boxes in each pallet must also contain the same sizes and colour. Shipment is in pallets of 70‐75 boxes loaded into refrigerated containers. Each 40ft container loads 20 pallets of 75 boxes, that is, 1500 boxes. Other fruits and vegetables have their unique grading systems followed by the export markets, based on sizes and degree of ripeness at harvesting, which must be strictly complied with in each shipment.
Centralized packaging and cold storage facility
Refrigerated container
Transporting vessel
Harvests from Out‐growers farms
Cold Chain
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This chain is recommended for an operation with a large number of small out growers using a centralized cold storage facility within 5 to 10 miles from their fields. These out growers deliver their harvests to the centralized processing and storage facility within 24 hours of harvest. In this facility, they are graded, packed, labeled and stored in a cold store. When the quantity for a full shipment is ready, they are loaded into refer containers and transported to the port. When the quantity for a full shipment is ready, they are loaded into refer containers and transported to the port. The products, in this example are transported over farm roads in crates to the processing and storage facility. The processed load for shipment is then transported over a longer distance from the centralized storage in refer containers, already in export packaging to ship side at the port of shipment. For this system the following logistics are essential:
1. Constant electricity at the processing and storage facility at harvest time 2. Fuel supplies for the transport vehicles and generators, if these are used. 3. Stock of packing and labeling materials. 4. Cleaning and sanitary materials 5. Loading bay and equipment 6. Staff and spares for the operation and maintenance of the refrigeration equipment and
delivery vehicles As important as proper packaging and suitability of transportation equipment, is also the state of the road corridors through which the products move from the farms to the port of shipment. It is very important that the road conditions are good with smooth surfaces to avoid damage to these fragile cargoes during transportation to avoid incurring losses. To ensure this, trunk, feeder and farm roads should be maintained in good condition, especially during harvest periods. 3.2.10 Export Marketing
Processing, packaging, marketing and export of nontraditional export crops should be undertaken by a Fruit and Vegetable Export Marketing Company. This limited liability company would be owned by the producers, as shareholders but managed on their behalf by an independent technical management team. This is the segment of the supply chain that directly interfaces with the international market and the most important for meeting quality standards, sales contract terms and maintaining a good business reputation in the market. It would otherwise be extremely difficult for smallholder producers to gain market entry and meet export market quality and safety standards on their own. For example processing on fresh fruits and vegetables involves sorting and grading. Trading in vegetables is the active occupation of many rural and peri‐urban residents, mainly for the domestic market. Attempts have been made to organize the production of vegetables for export but these efforts have, so far, not succeeded due to many constraints, chief among which is an undeveloped supply chain. The Koinadugu Women Vegetable Farming Cooperative (Box 3), and the Honey ee farmers Association (Box 4) are existing bodies which could be supported for NTE. Sierra Leone is one of 49 LDCs covered by the EU’s Everything But Arms (EBA) agreement: producers in Sierra Leone are permitted to export all products (except arms) to the EU duty‐free and quota‐free. However this does not exclude products from meeting food safety standards. Under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), as Sierra Leone a Least Developed Country (LDC) in Africa, eligible products of Sierra Leone origin are permitted into the US market duty‐free. The current act remains in force until September 2015 but a visa would first have to be obtained for
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the specific nontraditional export crops to be exported and these products would be competing with products from the Caribbean and Latin America, which also enter the US market duty free.
Box 3: The Koinadugu Women Vegetable Farmers Cooperative: The Koinadugu District provides an excellent location for a pilot phase development in vegetable production for export. Over the last 25 years, there has existed in Kabala, The Koinadugu Women Vegetable Farmers Cooperative. This organization was first formed in 1985 as an FAO project called the Kabala Women’s Project. At the end of that project in 1994 the women formed the vegetable farmers cooperative society in four chiefdoms of the District (Wara Wara Yagala, Sengbe, Foray Saba Dembelia, and Dia) The production areas in these four chiefdoms are all within a radius of 10 miles of the township of Kabala. The Cooperative consists of 30 groups of 25 members each that is a total of 750 small holder vegetable producers. The cooperative is governed by a constitution, which has been in force since its formation. The members cultivate plot sizes which vary from half an acre in the dry season, when plots are irrigated to an average to 2 acres in the rainy season. The farm size determinant is water availability. The members produce both organic and non organic vegetables: Okra, runner beans, tomatoes, chilli pepper and hot pepper are grown organically, whilst sweet pepper, carrots, cabbage and tomatoes are grown non‐organically. Cabbage is the crop grown in the largest volume. The Cooperative members grow other crops along with vegetables as a hedge against the poor market conditions they face in the vegetable trade. Their annual income is derived from four main crops in approximately the following proportions: 60% from vegetables, 20% from rice, 10% from groundnuts and 10% from Maize. Marketing is currently the greatest constraint to expansion of production and increasing members’ incomes. The local market is imperfect. The cooperative members ship their produce to vegetable sellers in Freetown, without any sales contract, written or unwritten. After harvesting they are anxious to dispose of their perishable produce and announce the readiness of their goods for shipment to vegetable sellers in Freetown. These function as sales agents rather than buyers of the produce shipped to them. On receiving an order to ship, the producers send their produce to these sellers without any knowledge of the ruling prices for their goods, invoicing or payment terms. The consignees sell to retailers and declare the value of the consignment after the sale. At the end, the Koinadugu producer gets what the Freetown dealer declares is due her on the consignment. The members put up with this arrangement because:
• They do not have any alternative channel for disposing of their produce. • Vegetable production is their primary occupation and the main means of sustaining their families and
educating their children. • Without any means of preservation, when their crops are mature, the producers must harvest and
dispose of them; otherwise the crops would rot in their farms and they would lose everything. • The commodities are perishable and without suitable means of transportation, they know that large
amounts of their shipments perish in transit. The Cooperative does not receive financial services from any financial institution. The members contribute to a fund that is used to purchase inputs, which are in turn, given as loans to them. This production credit is repaid with interest in kind to the fund after harvest. The fund also finances the hiring of trucks to ship members’ produce to the market in Freetown. Loans are also advanced to members for school and university fees, uniforms and family medical expenses. The members also participate in a village savings and loans scheme. Although the fund helps the members to get by at their current level of operation, it cannot support capital investment in equipment and infrastructure necessary for upscaling production to international market requirements in volumes and quality of crops. Labor is the highest cost input and the greatest constraint, especially for ploughing. Work gangs available for hire are unreliable and inefficient in terms of output per hour, when hired. They malinger and demand large amounts of food as part of their wages. The cooperative members believe that mechanical devices, such as power tillers would greatly assist in overcoming this constraint. The other labor intensive operations are brushing, ridging and weeding.
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3.2.11 Agricultural Finance Services
A national nontraditional export development programme will create a substantial demand for financial services along the entire domestic supply chain of each of the commodities. Sierra Leone has a disproportionately large number of commercial banks relative to the number of account holders in the country. Consequently a number of commercial banks, especially the newer ones, have been operating at a loss. Many of these banks are local subsidiaries of Nigerian owned banks that are likely to respond to the new investment opportunities that a nontraditional export programme will offer. To encourage this response, the Government should offer incentives by way of guaranteeing loans to parastatal institutions that will need to be created to promote the development of the nontraditional export sector. In addition to loans and loan guarantees, export credit, documentary credit and overland and sea cargo insurance are other financial services that
Box 4: Honey Bees Farmers Association of Koinadugu and HAGDI – SL The Honey Bees Farmers Association of Koinadugu was formed in 1992, with Pastor John Kamara as its Chairman. He acquired knowledge in Bee Keeping from his late father who was himself a renowned honey producer. Since 2002, The Pastor has been training people in his District in Bee Keeping. To date the association consists of 15 groups of 25 members each or a total of 375 members, located in the Musaia, Mamudia, Malonka, Falaba, Gberia, Ganya and Sinkunia chiefdoms Together, they have deployed a minimum of 300 hives per group or a total of 4500 hives for all groups of the association. Most of the groups are still using traditional hives made form bamboo and getting estimated production per hive of approximately 5 gallons of honey in two harvests each year. Total production from the Pastor’s organization is approximately 22,500 gallons of honey per year. HAGDI‐SL is a community based organization based in Kenema township, Nongowa Chiefdom, Kenema District providing Bee Keeping training and technical support to bee keepers in the South Eastern Sierra Leone on contract from The Humanist Movement for Non Violence of Switzerland. HAGDI have established a training and research centre for bee keeping in Kenema. The Centre is a member of Bee for Development in the UK. To date HAGDI – SL has trained 700 bee keepers in the Kenema and Kailahun Districts. HAGDI – SL estimates that there are at least 50 hives in each of these chiefdoms or a total of 35000 operating hives. These are projected to produce an estimated 175000 gallons of honey annually. Unlike the Koinadugu \producers the producers in the South East are using modern wooden hives, mainly Kenya Top Bar and some Super Hives. The opportunity for expansion of honey production is very great. The required initial investment per hive is minimal and the operating cost is very low. Land is not an issue in bee keeping as Bee keepers are only required to notify the local Chief of the location of their hives. The indication from the survey of these three Districts is that there is a good potential in honey production for export. The current export market demand is for raw honey as importers often would prefer to process and blend honey for their markets. But in addition to the export of raw honey to possible European destinations, processing facilities should be developed to produce quality honey, at least initially, for the regional market. It is proposed that a pilot nontraditional export program in honey starts in the Eastern Region, with producers in the HAGDI – SL project.
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should be provided in support of the nontraditional export development. The current situation of financial services to agriculture is very inadequate. As reported below, new institutions will need to be established to support the development of the nontraditional export sector. If this done, that act would inspire confidence in banks to respond to the needs of the sector, whose export oriented transactions would be quite bankable. Sierra Leone currently lacks an institutional system for agricultural financing. The National Development Bank and the National Cooperative Development Bank, which were established for this purpose both failed and are no longer in operation. Currently, savings in cash or kind, transfer payments, hand outs from NGOs and projects, Farmer Field Schools support and MDAs are the principal sources of investment in farming. There are serious demand side constraints to institutional financing of agricultural enterprises. The principal constraints are the remoteness of the locations of farming operations and the very poor existing rural road infrastructure. Added to these is the lack of market knowledge and awareness of the operations of financial institutions in farming communities. These and the informality of the rural economy and its low social and tangible asset base make for a very weak market for farm credit. There are also a number of supply side constraints worth noting. In the relative absence of a capital market, commercial banks portfolios composed of mainly shareholder’s funds (equity and undistributed profits) and depositors’ funds. These are not resources banks can trade with long term. Added to this is the limitation of a rudimentary risk market for insurance and guarantee covers. Finally, traditional commercial banks lack the assessment capacities of investment banks for the venture market that the Sierra Leone agricultural sector represents. Given the constraints analyzed above the ideal framework for institutional agricultural financing would be a private sector led and driven public private partnership institution. The shareholders would be commercial banks and other domestic financial institutions on the one hand, donors and third party financiers on the other and the Government as facilitator, regulator and overseer. Alternatively, as in the case of the Export Development and Investment Fund in Ghana, It could be a Fund established and funded by Government (and development partners). This institution would be a finance company (not a development bank) with the corporate Structure of a limited liability company, non‐deposit taking, specialized and registered under the Other Financial Services Act.3 In Ghana and Nigeria for example, the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF), the Export Finance Company (EFC), as well as the Exim Guaranty Fund have been operationalized. EDIF was established in 2000 by an Act of Parliament, Act 582 under the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) with the objective to facilitate access to finance for nontraditional exporters. It is funded by a 0.5% levy on all non‐petroleum imports as well as by a 10% proceeds from divestitures, and loans and grants that the Government periodically extends to the Fund. In Nigeria the FUND is maintained and managed by the Nigeria Export Promotion Council. 3.2.12 Meeting Standards for Nontraditional Exports:
Government has the primary responsibility for setting and maintaining national standards in the safety of food products for export that correspond to international standards. Equally, Government has the responsibility of establishing and maintaining the national institutions that test and certify all food products, for both the local and export markets to ensure that they are safe for human consumption and meet all international standards of safety. The institutional framework for
3 EDIF offers two complementary services: 1 .The EDIF Credit Facility, which operates with designated financial institutions (DFIs).These are mostly commercial banks but could include other institutions providing financial services. 2. The Export Development and Promotion Facility, which provides grants for business services aiming to promote exports, such Ghana Export Promotion Council, Research Institutions etc.
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standards in Sierra Leone comprises the Standards Bureau (SLSB)4 and the National Standards Council (SLNSC), The Sierra Leone Standards Bureau is the national institution that should tests and certify all food products produced in Sierra Leone or imported into Sierra Leone, to ensure that they are safe for human consumption and meet all international standards of safety. The bureau is a member of ARSO, ISO and an Affiliate Country Programme to IEC and the CODEX Alimentarius Commission. However the SLSB is seriously under‐funded and this has delayed the implementation of its activities. Qualified staffs need to be recruited and trained in areas such as metrology, standards testing, and quality management. A central laboratory needs to be created and equipped and along with regional laboratories, provide testing services, national metrology coverage, and quality management activities. Sierra Leone has no special marking, labeling, or packaging requirements other than the Price Tag Order 1956, which requires traders to display prices on their shelves. The Bureau is still playing a rather insignificant role in setting and maintaining standards and fulfilling its responsibilities. This is perhaps the most serious threat to the successful development and expansion of the production of non‐traditional export crops. The fresh food industry is highly regulated by local, national and international food safety laws, rules and regulations. Consumers must get assurances that imported raw and processed food is always safe for consumption. In 1993, under the auspices of the FAO and the WHO, the Codex Alimentarius Commission developed the HACCP or Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point system and guidelines, defining requirements for ensuring food safety at all stages of the food supply chain. Every country producing food items for export must regulate food quality along the supply chain in line with food safety law to ensure that every food contamination is detected at its point of incidence in the production or processing chain and not at the point of consumption. The HAACP is especially important in the production of food items for export, even by small and medium producers for three major reasons:
1. It reduces the risk of producing and exporting products that are unsafe for the markets of importing countries and all the costly and unpleasant consequences that could result from such an event.
2. It reduces the risk of spreading plant pathogens from producing countries to importing countries, where they could infect other plants with more devastating effects.
3. Regulatory authorities in most importing countries are adopting HACCP in their regulations and producing countries which have not adopted HACCP will have difficulty in entering those markets.
For example, the Food Safety Act, 1990 and the Food Hygiene Inspection Codes of Practice both include HACCP. The 1993 Revised Food Code of the Food and Drugs Administration of the US are compatible with HACCP. The EU Council Directive No. 93/43/EEC of June 1993 requires food producers to adopt HACCP systems to ensure food safety. For both domestic and foreign producers of food for consumption in the EU a European Commission Decision of May 20, 1994 requires a system of “own check”, which include HACCP requirements. It is under this requirement that for some time now a ban on seafood imports into the EU from Sierra Leone has been in force until adequate facilities for testing and certifying seafood products are established and used to meet EU food safety standards. There are UK and European Accreditation Agencies, which certify fresh products imports into these trade zones. Producers, especially from developing countries, that have these certifications have greater chances of accessing these markets than those that do not. Some of these are: Global Gap, British Retail Consortium and the Soil Association.5
4 Information available at: http://slstandard.tvs.com/ [7 October 2004]. 5 This is important for organic crops producers
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3.2.13 Power Supply
Although the demand for electricity of a nontraditional export programme in fruits and vegetables would not be that significant, the maintenance of a cold chain is essential especially for fresh fruits and vegetables (Figure 3.3). Power would be required at some points of the supply chain, including on‐farm cold storage in distant locations if fruits are to held over for any period of time in excess of 24 hours, power would also be required for plugging in refer containers prior to and after loading if required and in transit and finally in the main pre‐shipment holding cold storage, continuous power supply would be required. The current installed power generation capacity including the output of the new Bumbuna 1 project, meets less than half current electricity needs. The power demand is about to increase significantly as 3 major mining projects are slated to begin operations, each needing between 100 and 300MW of power. Unless new sources of power are developed the power constraint will become more severe in the near future. In anticipation of this, In October 2009, the Cabinet approved a comprehensive new energy policy, which encourages Independent Power Producers from renewable sources to produce and sell their power outputs through the National Power Authority under the supervision of an independent board, which will ensure fair and reliable payment of IPPs. It is expected that prospective bio‐energy companies would produce and sell their surplus electricity to the NPA under this scheme. It is also expected that prospective IPPs would be responsive to this opportunity on account of the potentially good returns that are possible. The current electricity tariff is 47c/kWh and although the government aims to reduce the tariff to 25c/kWh over the next few years, this still leaves ample room for very attractive wholesale pricing for biomass‐based IPPs. However, it is not certain when these sources of additional power would come on stream and how much of this production the companies would want to sell out. If they do not become available in sufficient amount and in good time, the power inadequacy would affect the successful development of the nontraditional export crop programme. 3.2.14 Port Facilities
Freetown harbor is the largest natural deep‐water port in West Africa. The government is in process of putting the port under contract to private management, in the hope that this would lead to improvements in services, facilities and throughput times. However there is no cold storage facility in the port at the moment. One would have to be built for the export of fresh products. 3.2.15 Training
Njala University College was established in 1964 principally for training agriculturists for Sierra Leone and neighboring countries. The majority (over 80%) of agriculturists in the country are graduates of Njala University. Since its founding, Njala University has turned out at least 1000 agriculture graduates, many with post graduate degrees. Most of these graduates are in the country and constitute most of the technical staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security and other establishments. However, Agriculture graduates have not gone into farming in any significant number and NU has to date not designed and offered training in agribusiness. There is therefore a need for this training to produce good farm managers and agribusiness entrepreneurs. 3.2.16 Nontraditional Export Crops Production Programme ‐ Risk Analysis:
The support of financial services providers is critical for the development of a nontraditional export programme. Government may desire the programme to augment the export base of the national economy but might lack the political will to do what it takes to establish the necessary financial services institutions that must support the programme. In Ghana at least four public institutions support the development of the nontraditional export programme: The Export Promotion Council, the Export Development and Investment Fund ‐EDIF, Export Finance Company Limited and the Export Marketing and Quality Awareness Project (EMQAP). It requires a strong commitment on the
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part of Government to establish and support the funding of these institutions and make them operational in reasonable time. Technical assistance is available to assist in transforming the farming systems in the country through the adopting of international best practices in farm management. But for this to be successful the country requires the following:
• Educated farmer/entrepreneurs who are willing to change and can lead in the adoption of the new production technology.
• Government that is willing to provide the necessary financial and legal support to bring about the necessary changes.
• Local institutions that would collaborate in the innovations by taking ownership of the new technologies and practices to ensure their sustainability in the national farming system.
Without the necessary facilities and infrastructure a nontraditional export programme cannot succeed. Public private investment is necessary to develop the required facilities, which will include refrigerated trucks, Cold storage, packing sheds and packaging materials.
Good quality products are what the export market demands but this cannot be assured unless effective standards controls are in force in the supply chain. At present the National Standards Bureau is not capable of ensuring standards and may not be for a long time, unless Government takes urgent steps to address its current shortcomings, which include:
• Lack of adequate office accommodation • Lack of measuring and testing laboratories • Obsolete equipment and facilities • Lack of quality mark for Trade • Lack of sufficiently trained and experienced staffs at all levels. • Lack of obsolescence policy • Lack of a standards information centre for access to information and technical data • Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has not been signed with critical standards
institutions (NIST, PTB, BSI, GSB, SON, KEBS, SABS, etc) • No established WTO/TBT,NEP, office that receives and disseminated information on
international standards and technical regulations • Lack of a National quality policy • Inadequate trained technical personnel • No established training programs for Industries • Poor reward structures and motivation system • Poor implementation of quality management system • Lack of accreditation • Lack of a legal and regulatory framework for its operations etc.
The Bureau is still a work‐in‐progress and might become the greatest obstacle to Sierra Leone’s full entry into international markets for the country’s nontraditional export crops.
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CHAPTER 4. INDICATIVE BUSINESS PLANS FOR NTES
The analysis in Chapter 2 showed with the exception of Sesame, production of each Category 1 NTE commodity is highly profitable and that Sierra Leone would have a comparative advantage in exporting them to Europe. However, as indicated earlier, production of the commodities using traditional technologies results in products that would have difficulty entering the European market. In this Chapter indicative business plans are provided for medium scale production and processing of two of the most promising commodities – honey and pineapples to meet European standards. In the following sections of this Chapter annual returns are projected. Details of monthly projections are in Annex 2 and 3
4.1 INDICATIVE BUSINESS PLAN FOR MODERN PROCESSING AND EXPORT OF HONEY
Figure 4.1: Performance highlights of honey processing and export company.
4.1.1 Objectives
The main objective of the Company is to purchase raw honey directly from bee keepers and process it to international specifications for sale to both the domestic and export markets. To ensure adequate production of honey for processing the Company will strive to build the trust and loyalty of bee keepers by:
1. Organising them into producer associations or cooperatives so that they can act collectively in matters that affect them.
2. Providing them with training and other technical assistance by way of field workshops facilitated by bee keeping experts. Emphasis of the workshops will be on best practices.
3. Where appropriate, assist in facilitating loans for them to enable them modernise their production practices by using modern bee keeping equipments and techniques.
Sales
Gross Margin
Net Profit
$0
$400,000
$800,000
$1,200,000
$1,600,000
$2,000,000
$2,400,000
$2,800,000
$3,200,000
$3,600,000
$4,000,000
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Highlights
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The above actions will not only lead to increased yields, it will also allow them to substantially reduce their cost of production resulting in increased net earnings. 4.1.2 Keys to Success
The key to success of any business depends on its level of profitability. As a result it should carry out constant reviews of its marketing strategies while paying close attention to quality assurance of it product. It should also ensure continuous supply of its raw materials. The Company will ensure a regular supple of raw honey by:
• Working with well organized producer associations. • Ensuring that bee keepers are well trained and well equipped to manage the hives. • Insisting on the use of best practices to ensure maximum yield and quality. • Establish a modern processing plant and process honey under the most hygienic conditions
in keeping with international standards. • Carry out a thorough market survey to obtain the best international prices for the products.
4.1.3 Company Ownership
The company will be incorporated as a private limited liability company under the Companies Act of the Laws of Sierra Leone. It will have an authorized ordinary share capital, the value of which will be determined by the prospective shareholders. The rights and privileges of these shares will be stated in the company's Articles and Memorandum of Association.
4.1.4 Start‐up Summary
Starting the business will require initial expenses of $39,000 as shown in Table 4.1 below.
Table 4.1: Start up Expenses and Investment for honey processing and export company Start‐up Funding Start‐up Expenses to Fund $34,000 Start‐up Assets to Fund $397,092 Total Funding Required $431,092 Assets Non‐cash Assets from Start‐up $392,092 Cash Requirements from Start‐up $5,000 Additional Cash Raised $0 Cash Balance on Starting Date $5,000 Total Assets $397,092 Planned Investment Owner $0 Investor $0 Additional Investment Requirement $431,092 Total Planned Investment $431,092 Loss at Start‐up (Start‐up Expenses) ($34,000) Total Capital $397,092 Total Capital and Liabilities $397,092 Total Funding $431,092
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4.1.5 Product
The Company will process raw honey for sale in the both the domestic and international markets. Honey consists of a mixture of sugars, mostly glucose and fructose. In addition to water (usually 17 – 20%) it also contains very small amounts of other substances, including minerals, vitamins, proteins and amino acids. A very minor, but important component of most honey is pollen. Honey is food and must be handled hygienically and all equipment must be perfectly clean. It is therefore critical that quality assurance of the product should be of the highest priority for the Company. Honey should be processed as soon as possible after removal from the hives. It is a sticky operation, in which time and patience are required to achieve the best results. Careful protection against contamination by ants and flying insects is needed at all stages of processing. For this purpose the Company will establish a laboratory to carry out tests on the product. The potential to increase honey production in the Country is very promising, if bee keepers are well organized and supported technically and financially. The Company will therefore get involved in promoting honey production through technical and financial support of producers associations and buying organic honey from them for processing and export. It will continuously monitor the work of the bee keepers to ensure that they produce high quality honey.
4.1.6 Market Analysis Summary
Honey is an important ingredient in many food items, confectionery and medicinal preparations. Consequently it is in very high demand almost everywhere. One of the consequences of deforestation in most parts of the world is the fall in honey production in some regions. Furthermore, the bee population is also declining in many European countries for some yet unexplainable reasons. These developments are creating market opportunities for honey production in regions, like West Africa, that still have forest cover. The Company will research the international market and try to identify markets that offer the best sales and price advantages and enter into contract with importers who give the best trade conditions. The company will enter into sales contract with the bee keepers associations it supports to ensure adequate supply of the product for processing. The Company will only exports honey of the highest quality to capture and retain a good market share. Desk surveys carried out on this product indicate a high demand for honey in the world market. 4.1.7 Production and Sales Forecast
The forecast of production and volume that will be available for export is based on the following assumptions:
• Each hive produces, on average, five gallons of honey per annum in two harvests. • A total of 30,000 hives will be established in the first year by associations working with the
Company. • It is projected that production will increase by 20% each in the second and third year
respectively. • The Company will start operations in the Kenema District, where there is already a large
number of bee keepers that have been trained by an NGO called Humanist Action for Grassroots Development Initiative Sierra Leone (HAGDI‐SL).
• It is projected that a total of 150,000 gallons of honey will be produced per annum. • The FOB price for honey produced by the company will be $18 per gallon.
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• The average farm gate price, per gallon, according to a recent survey carried out by EDS is Le11,480. The Company will offer Le20,000 per gallon to the bee keepers as an added incentive to remain loyal to the Company.
• The Company will encourage bee keepers to form groups and buy honey from them in bulk. As an incentive beekeeping equipments will be provided for contract producers selling to the Company. The company will offer them the added advantage of selling all that they can produce to its purchasing personnel without having to incur the cost of transporting honey over long distances in search of buyers.
Table 4.2: Sales Forcast for honey processing and export company
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Total Sales $2,700,000 $3,240,000 $3,888,000 Direct Cost of Sales Cost of Producing Honey $750,000 $900,000 $1,080,000 Various Accessories $4,000 $4,800 $5,760 Subtotal Direct Cost of Sales $754,000 $904,800 $1,080’5760
4.1.8 Management and Personnel Plan
The following staff will be directly employed by the Company: • General Manager • Finance/Administrative Manager • Technical Officers x 3 • Laboratory Assistant • Assistants x 3 • Drivers x 2 • Security/Cleaners x 4
The Management staff will be made up of a General Manager, a Finance/Administrative Manager and 3 Technical Officers. The General Manager will be responsible to the Board of Directors for the operations of the Company. He will be a degree holder in a relevant discipline with good management experience. There will be 10 administrative and support staff as listed below.
Table 4.3: Staffing of honey processing and export company Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 General Manager $15,000 $15,000 $15,750 Finance/Administrative Manager $12,000 $12,000 $12,600 Technical Officers x 3 $27,000 $27,000 $28,350 Assistant x 3 $18,000 $18,000 $18,900 Drivers x 2 $6,000 $6,000 $6,300 Security/Cleaners x 4 $4,800 $4,800 $5,040 Laboratory Assistant $7,200 $7,200 $7,560 Total People 15 15 15 Total Payroll $90,000 $90,000 $94,500
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4.1.9 Profitability
The following two assumptions were made:
• The rate of interest for the short term facility needed during the first year of operations will be 10%.
• A corporate tax of 30% will be paid to the Government by the Company. The Projected Profit & Loss Account shows that, the Company will earn profits of 24%, 26% and 29% respectively in the first three years. Provision was made for all Government taxes. The estimates for administrative expenses are based on best practice. The "Other Cost of Sales" is made up as follows:
• Cost of bottles: $272,760 • Corking and Labelling Materials: $15,000 • Cost of Cartoons for Packing: $104,557. • Transportation of raw materials: $25,000.
Table 4.4: Projected profit and loss for honey processing and export company Pro Forma Profit and Loss Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Sales $2,700,000 $3,240,000 $3,888,000 Direct Cost of Sales $754,000 $904,800 $1,,080,5760 Other Costs of Sales $417,317 $500,780 $600,936 Total Cost of Sales $1,171,317 $1,405,580 $,686,696 Gross Margin $1,528,683 $1,834,420 $2,201,304 Gross Margin % 56.62% 56.62% 56.62% Expenses Payroll $90,000 $90,000 $94,500 Marketing/Promotion $14,000 $14,000 $14,000 Depreciation $73,751 $73,751 $73,751 Rent $60,000 $60,000 $60,000 Fuel $60,000 $60,000 $60,000 Insurance $27,000 $27,000 $27,000 Payroll Taxes (National Insurance, etc.) $9,000 $9,000 $9,450 Hospitality $12,000 $12,000 $12,000 General Administrative Exp $36,000 $36,000 $36,000 Total Operating Expenses $381,751 $381,751 $386,701 Profit Before Interest and Taxes $1,146,932 $1,452,669 $1,814,603EBITDA $1,220,683 $1,526,420 $1,888,354 Interest Expense $64,354 $0 $0 Taxes Incurred $324,773 $435,801 $544,381 Net Profit $757,805 $1,016,868 $1,270,222 Net Profit/Sales 28.07% 31.38% 32.67%
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4.1.10 Projected Cash Flow
The Company will need overdraft facilities throughout the year totalling $1,071,317. This will be fully paid back by the end of the financial year. The overdraft will be needed to meet short term cash shortfalls only. Total funds required for fixed assets amount to $388,784, and it is expected that this would be met by the shareholders of the Company.
Table 4.5: Projected cash flow for honey processing and export company Pro Forma Cash Flow Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Cash Received Cash from Operations Cash Sales $2,700,000 $3,240,000 $3,888,000 Subtotal Cash from Operations $2,700,000 $3,240,000 $3,888,000 Additional Cash Received New Current Borrowing $1,071,317 $0 $0 New Investment Received $0 $0 $0 Subtotal Cash Received $3,771,317 $3,240,000 $3,888,000 Expenditures Expenditures from Operations Cash Spending $1,868,444 $2,149,381 $2,544,027 Subtotal Spent on Operations $1,868,444 $2,149,381 $2,544,027Principal Repayment of Current Borrowing $1,071,317 $0 $0 Purchase Fixed Assets $0 $0 $0 Dividends $0 $0 $0 Subtotal Cash Spent $2,939,761 $2,149,381 $2,544,027 Net Cash Flow $831,556 $1,090,619 $1,343,973 Cash Balance $836,556 $1,927,175 $3,271,148
4.1.11 Projected Balance Sheet
The fixed assets are in three main categories: • The capital requirements need per bee keeper. It is estimated that one individual can take
care of 100 hives. Based on this, it is estimated that the Company will need $33,308 to equip the 300 farmers that will be needed to produce 150,000 gallons of honey. This will be given as a loan to be recovered in instalments from them.
• Honey Processing Machines and peripherals will amount to $218,784, this includes the cost of a fully equipped laboratory.
• This category is made up of office equipment, furniture & Fixtures and motor vehicles totalling $140,000.
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Table 4.6: Balance Sheet for honey processing and export company Pro Forma Balance Sheet Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Assets Current Assets Cash $836,556 $1,927,175 $3,271,148Other Current Assets $0 $0 $0 Total Current Assets $836,556 $1,927,175 $3,271,148 Fixed Assets Fixed Assets $392,092 $392,092 $392,092 Accumulated Depreciation $73,751 $147,502 $221,253 Total Fixed Assets $318,341 $244,590 $170,839 Total Assets $1,154,897 $2,171,765 $3,441,987 Liabilities and Capital Total Liabilities $0 $0 $0 Paid‐in Capital $431,092 $431,092 $431,092 Retained Earnings ($34,000) $723,805 $1,740,673 Earnings $757,805 $1,016,868 $1,270,222 Total Capital $1,154,897 $2,171,765 $3,441,987 Total Liabilities and Capital $1,154,897 $2,171,765 $3,441,987 Net Worth $1,154,897 $2,171,765 $3,441,987
4.1.12 Business Ratios
Table 4.7: Business ratios for honey processing and export company Ratio Analysis Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Sales Growth n.a. 20.00% 20.00% Percent of Total Assets Other Current Assets 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Total Current Assets 72.44% 88.74% 95.04% Fixed Assets 27.56% 11.26% 4.96% Total Assets 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% Percent of Sales Sales 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% Gross Margin 56.62% 56.62% 56.62% Selling, General & Administrative Expenses
28.55% 25.23% 23.95%
Advertising Expenses 0.52% 0.43% 0.36% Profit Before Interest and Taxes 42.48% 44.84% 46.67%
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Ratio Analysis Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Main Ratios Pre‐tax Return on Net Worth 93.74% 66.89% 52.72% Pre‐tax Return on Assets 93.74% 66.89% 52.72% Additional Ratios Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Net Profit Margin 28.07% 31.38% 32.67% Return on Equity 65.62% 46.82% 6.90% Activity Ratios Accounts Payable Turnover 4.79 12.17 12.17 Total Asset Turnover 2.34 1.49 1.13 Debt Ratios Net Working Capital $836,556 $1,927,175 $3,271,148 Interest Coverage 17.82 0.00 0.00 Additional Ratios Current Debt/Total Assets 0% 0% 0% Acid Test 0.00 0.00 0.00 Sales/Net Worth 2.34 1.49 1.13 Dividend Payout 0.00 0.00 0.00
4.2 INDICATIVE BUSINESS PLAN FOR MODERN PRODUCTION, PACKING AND EXPORT OF PINEAPPLES
Figure 4.2: Performance Highlights of pineapple production and export company
Sales
Gross Margin
Net Profit
$0
$1,000,000
$2,000,000
$3,000,000
$4,000,000
$5,000,000
($1,000,000)
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5
Highlights
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4.2.1: Objectives:
1. To produce pineapples to international standards for the export market in fresh fruits. 3. To support the Government's policy of involving the private sector in agricultural development. 2. To improve the incomes and livelihoods of pineapple farmers. 4.2.2 Mission
Pineapple grown in the Country at the moment is mainly for the local market and do not meet international specifications. The Company intends to overcome this by producing a new variety of pineapple to international specifications primarily for export. Existing pineapple farmers will be organized to undertake the production for sale to a specialized packaging and export company. 4.2.3 Keys to Success
1. Due to the competitiveness of the fresh fruit market, pineapples produced must meet precise specifications, quality and food safety standards.
2. A strong management team with experience in growing and marketing pineapples for export should be employed.
3. Long‐term customer satisfaction should be a critical business policy. 4. Because of the lag between planting and maturity of the crop i.e. 14 months, adequate
working capital must be available to meet the operational needs of the company. 4.2. 4 Company Ownership
The Company will be incorporated as Private Limited Liability Company under the Company Laws of Sierra Leone. The Company will be incorporated with twenty farmers as its shareholders. Each farmer will cultivate 10 acres of land, making a total of 200 acres that will be under cultivation. A total of 1000 acres of land will be acquired. This will allow for 200 acres to be cultivated under a three year crop rotation system. The farmers will be equal shareholders, but may sell shares to strategic partners. 4.2.5 Start‐up Summary
The Table 4.8 shows the projected initial start‐up costs of the Company. These costs will normally be financed by the owners of the Company. They include incorporation of the company, initial stationery, office supplies and office equipment, etc.
Table 4.8: Start‐up capital requirements for Pineapple company Start‐up Expenses Legal $2,500 Stationery & Office Supplies. $5,000 Travel $7,500 Per diem $5,000 Computer $2,500 Office Equipment $10,000 Public Relations & Hospitality $5,000 Total Start‐up Expenses $37,500 Start‐up Assets Cash Required $37,500 Other Current Assets $0 Fixed Assets $409,250 Total Assets $446,750 Total Requirements $484,250
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4.2.6 Products
MD2 or Golden Yellow, a new variety of pineapple will be introduced from its origin Puerto Rico or Ghana for cultivation. The international fresh fruit market currently demands this variety whose fruits are:
• Cylindrical in shape and not conical as Smooth Cayenne that is now commonly grown in the country and Sugarloaf.
• Uniformly sweet fruit from top to bottom. • Deep yellow internal colour. • Nicer flavour.
4.2.7 Market Analysis
Primarily for health reasons, people in the developed countries are consuming larger volumes and varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables, throughout the year. In the winter months, when there is little production of fresh products in those countries in the Northern hemisphere, their markets depend on supplies of fruits and vegetables from tropical regions. This has created a large and growing market for fruits and vegetables grown in tropical countries like Sierra Leone. The main objective of this project is to grow pineapples for export mainly to European countries, especially in the winter months. About 90% of the harvest will be exported. Only 10% will be sold in the local market.
It is expected that ninety percent of the pineapples produced will be of exportable quality and processed for the international market. The 10% non exportable quality will be targeted at the local market. The extent to which the Company will succeed depends on how well it adheres to consumer taste and preference. In an industry that is very particular about specifications only fruits of the highest quality will be accepted. This will be all the more difficult for a country entering the market newly to compete with countries that have been in the market and have accumulated knowledge and experience. The company will have to find and keep international buyers through its efficiency and effectiveness. 4.2.8 Sales Strategy
The Company will target the export market. Ninety percent of all its produce will be for the export. As a result every effort will be made to produce pineapples that meet international specifications. The purpose of the project is to increase the export base of the Country and at the same time empower farmers to take advantage of the opportunities that exist in the international market for trade in fresh pineapples. The international market for fresh fruits and vegetables, especially in Europe, is large and expanding due to rising standards of living and health concerns in all developing countries. There is also high demand for these healthy foods in the Middle East. There is therefore a significantly high unmet demand, which offers market opportunity for new producers. Given the advantage of low factor costs in Sierra Leone, the country’s products should compete well with products from other production sources. The proposal is for 20 farmers to cultivate 10 acres of pineapple each, making a total of 200 acres that will be under cultivation at any one time. No increase in acreage is envisaged until after the 5th year when the project would be evaluated to ensure, among other things, that expansion can take place without affecting the efficiency with which the farm is operated
68
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On average 26,000 pineapples will be produced per acre. Two hundred acres will yield five million two hundred thousand (5,200,000) pineapples of which 4,680,000 will be exported and 520,000 sold in the local market. It is assumed that one twelfth of the total acreage will be cultivated every month, therefore at the end of the first financial year a total acreage of 200 acres would have been cultivated. The first crop will be ready for harvesting at end of the fourteenth month. The first sale is expected at the end on the 15th month. Based on current international prices, one pineapple will be sold for $0.95. Shipment will be done weekly, in boxes loaded into refrigerated containers
Table 4.9: Sales forcast for pineapple company Sales Forecast Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Sales International Market $12 $3,369,600 $4,492,800 $4,492,800 $4,492,800 Local Market $12 $234,000 $312,000 $312,000 $312,000 Pineapple Suckers $12 $84,000 $336,000 $336,000 $336,000 Total Sales $36 $3,687,600 $5,140,800 $5,140,800 $5,140,800 Direct Cost of Sales Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5Cost of Suckers $578,400 $578,400 $578,400 $578,400 $578,400 Cost of Fertilizers $165,000 $165,000 $165,000 $165,000 $165,000 Plastic Covering $9,000 $9,000 $9,000 $9,000 $9,000 Subtotal Direct Cost of Sales
$752,400 $752,400 $752,400 $752,400 $752,400
4.2.9 Management and Personnel Plan
The Company will have 20 shareholders who will be equal owners of the shares. They might decide to sell shares to a strategic partner(s) to help provide some of the financing that will be needed to get the Company started. Since there will be no revenue until the end of the 15th month all the initial funding will be provided by the farmers and strategic partners. The Personnel Table shows a total of 132 staff, 125 of which are directly involved with producing and exporting pineapples. The total cost of personnel for the five year period is $288,600 for the first three years and $308,130 for the fourth and fifth years respectively. The Company will have the following staff:
• General Manager • Deputy General Manager/Financial Controller • Accountant/Administrative Manager • Sr. Marketing Assistant • Administrative/Finance Assistant • Sr. Sales Assistant • Administrative Assistant • Farm Managers x 10 • Harvesters x 25 • Parkers x 25 • Planters x 50 • Sucker Harvesters x 10
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• Tractor Operators x 6 • Truck Drivers • Security/Cleaners.
For cost effectiveness, all farm implements will be managed centrally. For example, the 20 separate farms will employ 10 tractors, a Spray Booms with Sprayer Tank, Trailer and Sucker Treatment Plant. The operations will be headed by a General Manager who will be experienced in every aspect of the pineapple industry. There will be a Deputy General Manager who will also be the Financial Controller. Because of the proposed scale of the operations which is expected to run into millions of US Dollars, an Accountant/Administrative Manager is also proposed. He will be in charge of record keeping and the day‐to‐day administrative management of the Company. Four assistants will give administrative, personnel, and accounting backup to the Financial Controller and the Accountant/Administrative Manager.
Table 4.10: Personnel plan for pineapple company Personnel Plan Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 General Manager $28,800 $28,800 $28,800 $31,680 $31,680 Deputy General Manager/Financial Controller
$19,500 $19,500 $19,500 $21,450 $21,450
Accountant/Administrative Manager
$11,700 $11,700 $11,700 $12,870 $12,870
Sr Marketing Assistant $6,000 $6,000 $6,000 $6,600 $6,600 Sr Sales Assistant $6,000 $6,000 $6,000 $6,600 $6,600 Administrative/Finance Assistant
$4,800 $4,800 $4,800 $5,280 $5,280
Administrative Assistant $4,200 $4,200 $4,200 $4,620 $4,620 Packers x 25 $21,000 $21,000 $21,000 $22,050 $22,050 Harvesters x 25 $21,000 $21,000 $21,000 $23,100 $23,100 Planters x 50 $42,000 $42,000 $42,000 $44,100 $44,100 Sucker Harvesters x 10 $8,400 $8,400 $8,400 $8,820 $8,820 Tractor Operators X 6 $10,800 $10,800 $10,800 $11,340 $11,340 Truck Drivers x 4 $7,200 $7,200 $7,200 $7,560 $7,560 Security/Cleaners x 5 $7,200 $7,200 $7,200 $7,560 $7,560 Farm Managers x 10 $90,000 $90,000 $90,000 $94,500 $94,500 Total People 132 132 132 132 132 Total Payroll $288,600 $288,600 $288,600 $308,130 $308,130
4.2.11 Projected Profit and Loss
The start‐up cost of the Company consists of working capital, equipment and furniture and fittings (Table 4.‐‐‐). The owners of the Company will sell shares to a strategic partner(s) to meet the high initial costs. The Company would have to meet all its costs, both fixed and current from equity and loan, because sales will only commence 15 months from the date of planting of the first crop. The Trading and Profit & Loss Account is based on the following major assumptions:
• Sales price per pineapple is $0.95
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• There will be no sales for the first 15 months, because pineapples take 14 months to mature and extra month is added for harvesting and shipment.
• It is assumed that each acre will yield 26,000 fruits, and the total acreage that will be cultivated will be 200 acres.
• The initial suckers will be bought from Ghana at a cost of 0.01 cedi per sucker. Each 40' container takes between 80,000 and 100,000 suckers. These projections are based on 90,000 suckers per 40' container.
• Between 4 and 8 suckers are produced per plant. In order to properly account for the suckers they are treated as sales to the company.
• The administrative expenditures are based on best estimates. • Although no dividends are estimated in the Profit and Loss Account there will be
enough profits as from the second year to pay dividend. The Board of Directors will take a decision on that.
• Normal depreciation was provided for fixed assets and NASSIT contributions for staff were taken into consideration also.
• It is assumed that short term loan needed will be obtained at an interest rate of 7.5%. • Other "cost of sales" is made up of insurance for exported goods ($156,000) and freight
($260,000) respectively. The assumptions above are based on information researched from Ghana where there are experienced pineapple growers and exporters.
Table 4.11: Projected profit and loss for pinapple company Pro Forma Profit and Loss Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Sales $36 $3,687,600 $5,140,800 $5,140,800 $5,140,800 Direct Cost of Sales $752,400 $752,400 $752,400 $752,400 $752,400 Other Costs of Sales $0 $346,700 $416,040 $416,040 $416,040 Total Cost of Sales $752,400 $1,099,100 $1,168,440 $1,168,440 $1,168,440 Gross Margin ($752,364) $2,588,500 $3,972,360 $3,972,360 $3,972,360 Gross Margin % 70.19% 77.27% 77.27% 77.27% Expenses Payroll $288,600 $288,600 $288,600 $308,130 $308,130 Marketing/Promotion $10,680 $10,680 $11,748 $11,748 $11,748 Depreciation $45,205 $45,205 $45,205 $45,205 $45,205 Land Rent $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 Rates $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 Insurance (Fixed Assets) $4,093 $4,093 $4,093 $4,093 $4,093 Payroll Taxes (National Insurance, etc.)
$28,860 $28,860 $28,860 $30,813 $30,813
General Administrative Exp.
$240,240 $240,240 $240,240 $264,264 $264,264
Fuel $148,224 $148,224 $148,224 $163,046 $163,046 Loan Interest $0 $159,628 $106,410 $53,207 $0 Total Operating Expenses $767,902 $927,530 $875,380 $882,506 $829,299 Profit Before Interest and ($1,520,266) $1,660,970 $3,096,980 $3,089,854 $3,143,061
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Pro Forma Profit and Loss Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Taxes EBITDA ($1,475,061) $1,706,175 $3,142,185 $3,135,059 $3,188,266 Interest Expense $0 $206,925 $106,417 $35,471 ($2) Net Profit ($1,520,266) $1,454,045 $2,990,563 $3,054,383 $3,143,063 Net Profit/Sales 39.43% 58.17% 59.41% 61.14%
Table 4.12: Projected cash flow of pinapple company Pro Forma Cash Flow Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Cash Received Cash from Operations Cash Sales $36 $3,687,600 $5,140,800 $5,140,800 $5,140,800 Subtotal Cash from Operations
$36 $3,687,600 $5,140,800 $5,140,800 $5,140,800
New Current Borrowing $2,128,372 $0 $0 $0 $0 Subtotal Cash Received $2,128,408 $3,687,600 $5,140,800 $5,140,800 $5,140,800 Expenditures Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Expenditures from Operations
Cash Spending $1,475,097 $2,188,350 $2,105,032 $2,041,212 $1,952,532 Subtotal Spent on Operations
$1,475,097 $2,188,350 $2,105,032 $2,041,212 $1,952,532
Additional Cash Spent VAT Paid Out (Input Tax) $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 VAT Payments $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Principal Repayment of Current Borrowing
$0 $709,475 $709,458 $709,458 $0
Other Liabilities Principal Repayment
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Fixed Liabilities Principal Repayment
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Purchase Other Current Assets
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Purchase Fixed Assets $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Dividends $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Subtotal Cash Spent $1,475,097 $2,897,825 $2,814,490 $2,750,670 $1,952,532 Net Cash Flow $653,311 $789,775 $2,326,310 $2,390,130 $3,188,268 Cash Balance $690,811 $1,480,586 $3,806,896 $6,197,026 $9,385,294
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4.2.12 Projected Balance Sheet
Table 4.13: Projected Balance Sheet for pineapple company Pro Forma Balance Sheet Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Assets Current Assets Cash $690,811 $1,480,586 $3,806,896 $6,197,026 $9,385,294 Other Current Assets $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Total Current Assets $690,811 $1,480,586 $3,806,896 $6,197,026 $9,385,294 Fixed Assets Fixed Assets $409,250 $409,250 $409,250 $409,250 $409,250 Accumulated Depreciation $45,205 $90,410 $135,615 $180,820 $226,025 Total Fixed Assets $364,045 $318,840 $273,635 $228,430 $183,225 Total Assets $1,054,856 $1,799,426 $4,080,531 $6,425,456 $9,568,519 Liabilities and Capital Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Current Liabilities Current Borrowing $2,128,372 $1,418,897 $709,439 ($19) ($19) Other Current Liabilities $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Subtotal Current Liabilities $2,128,372 $1,418,897 $709,439 ($19) ($19) Total Liabilities $2,128,372 $1,418,897 $709,439 ($19) ($19) Paid‐in Capital $484,250 $484,250 $484,250 $484,250 $484,250 Retained Earnings ($37,500) ($1,557,766) ($103,721) $2,886,842 $5,941,225 Earnings ($1,520,266) $1,454,045 $2,990,563 $3,054,383 $3,143,063 Total Capital ($1,073,516) $380,529 $3,371,092 $6,425,475 $9,568,538 Total Liabilities and Capital $1,054,856 $1,799,426 $4,080,531 $6,425,456 $9,568,519 Net Worth ($1,073,516) $380,529 $3,371,092 $6,425,475 $9,568,538
4.2.13 Business Ratios
Table 4.14: Business Ratios for pineapple company
Ratio Analysis Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5Sales Growth n.a. 10243233.33% 39.41% 0.00% 0.00% Percent of Total Assets Other Current Assets 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Total Current Assets 65.49% 82.28% 93.29% 96.44% 98.09% Fixed Assets 34.51% 17.72% 6.71% 3.56% 1.91% Total Assets 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%
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Ratio Analysis Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Current Liabilities 201.77% 78.85% 17.39% 0.00% 0.00% Fixed Liabilities 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Total Liabilities 201.77% 78.85% 17.39% 0.00% 0.00% Net Worth ‐101.77% 21.15% 82.61% 100.00% 100.00% Percent of Sales Sales 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% Gross Margin 70.19% 77.27% 77.27% 77.27% Selling, General & Administrative Expenses
30.76% 19.10% 17.86% 16.13%
Advertising Expenses 0.29% 0.23% 0.23% 0.23% Profit Before Interest and Taxes
45.04% 60.24% 60.10% 61.14%
Main Ratios Current 0.32 1.04 5.37 Quick 0.32 1.04 5.37 Total Debt to Total Assets 201.77% 78.85% 17.39% 0.00% 0.00% Pre‐tax Return on Net Worth
141.62% 382.11% 88.71% 47.54% 32.85%
Pre‐tax Return on Assets ‐144.12% 80.81% 73.29% 47.54% 32.85% Additional Ratios Net Profit Margin 39.43% 58.17% 59.41% 61.14% Return on Equity 0.00% 382.11% 88.71% 47.54% 32.85% Activity Ratios Accounts Payable Turnover 12.69 6.49 12.17 12.17 12.17 Total Asset Turnover 0.00 2.05 1.26 0.80 0.54 Debt Ratios Debt to Net Worth 0.00 3.73 0.21 ‐0.00 ‐0.00 Current Liab. to Liab. 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.00 0.00 Liquidity Ratios Net Working Capital ($1,437,561) $61,689 $3,097,457 $6,197,045 $9,385,313 Interest Coverage 0.00 8.03 29.10 87.11 0.00 Additional Ratios Assets to Sales 29,301.56 0.49 0.79 1.25 1.86 Current Debt/Total Assets 202% 79% 17% 0% 0% Acid Test 0.32 1.04 5.37 0.00 0.00 Sales/Net Worth 0.00 9.69 1.52 0.80 0.54 Dividend Payout 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
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CHAPTER 5. NON TRADITIONAL EXPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR SIERRA LEONE
5.1 DEVELOPING A NTE POLICY
A national policy on the development of NTEs should have a clear purpose. Usually it is a strategy to solve a gap in national economic performance arising from poor or falling revenues from traditional exports. Among other things, the effective implementation of a NTE policy requires the expansion of the scope of a wide range of existing export related institutions and/or the creation of new ones. In Ghana for example, the policy for the development of NTEs was strongly driven by a need to afford business people access to foreign exchange for investment during a period, in the early 1980s, when foreign exchange was in very short supply in the country and there was a strict exchange control regime in force. At the same time, traditional exports, which were the country’s main foreign exchange earners, were under monopoly state marketing boards. A new national policy was therefore conceived, which allowed business people to officially export non‐traditional products and retain the proceeds for their business operations. It took over 20 years, and the operationalization of the Export Development and Investment Fund in 2001, for the policy to be effectively implemented The first step in the strategy for the development of a non traditional export programme is to clearly define the objective and then develop a clear policy with that objective in view. The objective of developing a NTE policy for Sierra Leone is to expand and deepen the national export base, increase export earnings and create additional income opportunities for small farmers in rural communities. That being the case a policy framework should be established that defines (a) what NTE commodities to produce, (b) who will be involved in the production, (c) how the commodities should be produced, and (d) where and for what markets they will be produced. 5.2 COMMODITIES TO BE PRODUCED
The procedure for the identification of the products to be developed is discussed in Chapter 1 of this study involving and identification of Category 1 candidate commodities for immediate promotion (string beans, sesame, pineapples, kola nuts and bee honey) and Category 2 commodities that should be investigated later, determination and understanding of the potential export market, and conduct of a farm survey to determine the production efficiency and comparative advantage of the commodities. From the analysis in preceding Chapters of this report four commodities namely pineapples, string beans, bee honey and kola nuts are recommended for promotion in a pilot phase of a Sierra Leone NTE development programme. Other crops may, in the future, be identified and developed for export based on the selection process employed in this survey. 5.3 WHO SHOULD PRODUCE THE COMMODITIES
The production practices in the country define who is producing the potential products to be considered. Products with which producers already have knowledge and experience would naturally be easier to develop for export. Desk and field surveys would reveal the state of this indicator at the national and local levels. Furthermore building on the characteristics of the existing system is advantageous. Thus for basic farm production in Sierra Leone it will be a good strategy to use small farmers as they are the producers of the bulk of the country’s crops output. However, producing for export requires conformity to standards of quality and hygiene far higher than obtains in the domestic market. Since the required supplies, infrastructure and enabling environment generally, for
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that type and level of production is not available, the intervention of government is essential to provide them as public investment, public private partnership undertaking or as private investment with strong government provided incentives. The Ghanaian experience was examined as part of the present study, and clearly revealed that government has very significant role to play if the NTE development policy should succeed. These roles include but are not limited to:
1. Supporting market research for the identification of potential NTEs and their market opportunities directly or with the assistance of development partners and donors.
2. Supporting the development of the supply chain of the selected products for export to identified markets.
3. Creating an enabling environment for the development of private production of the selected products for export.
4. Developing the required support and regulatory institutions for the efficient production of the selected products locally and their unhindered entry into foreign markets.
5. Developing and maintaining the necessary infrastructure in all segments of the supply chain of the commodities for sustainable efficient production and delivery.
6. Initially, providing the necessary technical information for the successful production and export of the commodities.
7. Providing necessary incentives to private investors to encourage the production of NTE products. These would include but not limited to:
a. Encouraging and collaborating with multinational companies wishing to develop a supply source of the commodities in the host country, to do so cost effectively, to international market standards and usually with a recognized brand.
b. Providing funding for the introduction, multiplication and distribution of new high yielding planting materials.6
c. Invest in critical components of the supply chain of non traditional commodities being developed for export7.
8. To implement an NTE development policy and export promotion in general, key support institutions should be established to provide the necessary services and resources for the development of the sector8
5.4 HOW NTES SHOULD BE PRODUCED
This study shows that production of the four selected NTE commodities by small sacle producers for the domestic market is highly profitable and that Sierra Leone would have a comparative advantage in exporting them to Europe and rge regional (ECOWAS) market. However, as already mentioned, production for the international markets for fresh fruits and vegetables must meet specific
6 For example in Ghana, the government provided $2,000,000 for the supply and multiplication of the MD pineapple variety from Costa Rica for distribution to pineapple farmers 7 In Ghana, the government: invested $5,000,000 in the construction of a refrigerated warehouse for the export of pineapples, bananas and mangoes. The facility is operating effectively and commercially on a cost recovery arrangement. The Ghana government also provided warehouses for input dealers, provided funding through EDIF for packaging companies, funded the purchase of two 40ft refrigerated trucks and Funded expert technical assistance to motivate farmers to produce quality products for export. 8 In Ghana, the following institutions were established for that purpose; Export Marketing and Quality Assurance (Awareness) Project; Export Development and Investment Fund, Export Finance Company Limited Established in 1989 to offer financial and related support to the Non‐Traditional Export sector of the Ghanaian economy
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requirement in terms of varieties, sizes, degree of ripeness, packaging and agronomic practices used in the production. An aspiring entrant into the market must know precisely what the current market requirements are and produce to those specification. Consequently, a country wishing to enter into production of fresh products for the international market should as a matter of necessity;
• Either possess or employ the services of qualified and experienced technical advisers on the agronomy and cultivation of the plant varieties in current demand and their handling and processing for export.
• Organize farmers into producer associations for the effective delivery of support by way of extension, training and inputs.
• Organize input suppliers and assist them to stock and distribute required inputs to the producers in a timely manner.
• Ensure that producers fully acquire the required technical knowledge to produce consistently for the export market by establishing pilot farms, which will be used as production field schools.
5.5 MARKETS FOR WHICH NTES SHOULD PRODUCED
Meeting market requirements is extremely onerous, especially for new entrants. However there are international trade fairs for fresh fruits and vegetables where buyers, sellers and producers meet and discuss product requirements and supply contracts. These fairs give new producers an opportunity to display their products and negotiate contracts. One of the most important fairs for fresh fruits and vegetables is the FRUIT LOGOSTICA, which is held in Berlin, Germany annually in February. There are many other fairs for fruits and vegetables listed on the internet. Sierra Leone is closer to the European market than most West African NTE producers including Ghana which the survey covered. Given that advantage, if products of Sierra Leone origin are of the same quality as the Ghanaian products, for example, they would readily gain market entry in Europe. Collaboration in marketing is possible with existing nte exporters in neighbouring countries. This was one of the outcomes of the field survey in Ghana. And the possibilities for collaboration also extend to production of NTE products in Sierra Leone. 5.6 SUMMARY OF POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
This study shows that Sierra Leone has market opportunities and comparative advantage in undertaking the development of a number of agricultural products for export of pineapple, string beans, kola nuts and honey. To promote development of these potential NTEs as well as other commodities a strategy should be put in place consisting of, but not limited to the following:
6. Pilot projects should be implemented in the development of small holder NTE commodity production units, organized in selected geographic locations and producer associations, centrally supported. A detailed pilot project document should be developed for pineapple production in the Moyamba District, vegetable production in the Koinadugu District and honey in the Kenema and Kailahun Districts.
7. A central project implementation unit should be established, comprising of at least one expert in the agronomy and larger scale production of each of selected products headed by an experienced agribusiness manager, with extensive local experience.
8. Certified planting materials should be imported and tested before dissemination. Arrangement should be made to multiply planting materials locally where this is feasible.
9. An NTE export marketing company should be established and provided with adequate resources to handle the safe collection, processing, certification, packaging, labelling, storage and shipment of the products.
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10. Financial services as shall be prescribed in the pilot project document should be available from a dedicated financial institution. However initially Government guarantee may be provided to local commercial banks for loans to registered NTE export producers.
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ANNEX 1
ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES LTD (EDS) NON TRADITIONAL EXPORT COMMODITIES SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE
SECTION 1: IDENTIFICATION Date ____________________ Questionnaire N° |__|__|__| Name of Enumerator ________________________________________________
VARIABLES RESPONSE OPTIONS CODE
District 1 = Bombali; 2 =Tonkolili; 3 = Kambia; 4 = Koinadugu; 5 = Port Loko, 6 = |__|
Chiefdom Name Chiefdom______________________ |__|__|
Village/Site Name Village/Site: ___________________ |__|__|
Distance to C/dom Hdqts (Kms) |__|__|__|●|__|__|
Farm Name of Farmer/Producer ________________________________________
GPS of Farm _____________________N _______________________S _ _____________________ W ________________________E
Commodity 1= String Beans; 2= Sesame ; 3= Pineapple; 4= Honey, 5= Cassava, 6 = Kola |__|
Distance to Village/Site (Kms) GPS Area actually planted (ha)
Main Field/ Unit |__|__|__|●|__|__| |__|__|__|●|__|__|
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SECTION 2: HOUSEHOLD INFORMATION
QUESTIONS RESPONSE OPTIONS CODE
Respondent role in the household 1 = household head 2 = spouse 3 = child 4 = other (specify)____________ |__|
Approximate age of Respondent 1 = 18‐25 years 2 = 26‐35 years 3 = 36‐50 years 4 = 51‐65 years 5 = > 65 years
|__|
Sex 1 = male 2 = female |__|
Education 1 = illiterate 2 = literate (can read & write) |__|
N° men in household 18 years & over Count |__|__|
N° women in HH 18 years &over Count |__|__|
N° boys in HH under 18 years Count |__|__|
N° girls in HH under 18 years Count |__|__| SECTION 3: PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT
How many farm tools and equipment do you have for your enterprise?
Item Quantity Cutlasses/Machetes |__|__|__| Axes |__|__|__| Hoes |__|__|__| Wheelbarrow |__|__|__| Chainsaw |__|__|__| Knapsack sprayer |__|__|__| Irrigation pump |__|__|__| Bicycle |__|__|__| Motorcycle |__|__|__| Cell phone |__|__|__| Cassava Grater |__|__|__| Bee Hives (Traditional log type) |__|__|__| Bee Hives (Improved) |__|__|__| Baskets |__|__|__| Jute/Nylon bags |__|__|__| Tarpaulins |__|__|__| Raffia drying mats |__|__|__| Other (describe) ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________
|__|__|__| |__|__|__| |__|__|__| |__|__|__| |__|__|__| |__|__|__| |__|__|__| |__|__|__|
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SECTION 4: INPUTS FOR MAIN FIELD/PRODUCTION UNIT (last season)
Inputs: Units (Name) Units (Code) Cost/Unit (Leones)
Quantity
Seed : Fertiliser Pesticides Land rent Mech Cult ‐ plough Mech Cult ‐ harrow Other ______________ Other ______________
Hired Labour Land Clearing Person days Nursery work Person days Plough Person days Plant/Transplant Person days Weed Person days Water/Irrigate Person days Bird scare/ guarding Person days Harvest Person days Threshing/Chipping Person days Drying Person days Transport to store Person days Family Labour Land Clearing Person days Nursery work Person days Plough Person days Plant/Transplant Person days Weed Person days Water/irrigate Person days Bird scare/ guarding Person days Harvest Person days Threshing/Chipping Person days Drying Person days Transport to store Person days
83
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SECTION 5: OUTPUTS FOR MAIN FIELD/PRODUCTION UNIT (last season)
Output: Product (Name) Product (Code)
Units (Name) Units (Code)
Quantity
Field 1 (for which inputs recorded)
All other fields/ Production Uniits
SECTION 6: CONSUMPTION AND SALES (All of the Produce during last 12 months = 10) Consumed Gifts + Seed Sold Produce 1 ______________ |__| |__| |__| Produce 2 ______________ |__| |__| |__|
SECTION 7: PROCESSING (All the crop produced during last 12 months)
Processing (after threshing) For Home Consumption For Sale Product 1 _____________________ |__| out of 10 |__| out of 10 Product 2 _____________________ |__| out of 10 |__| out of 10
SECTION 8: MARKETING
Where do you sell your produce?
Location Type Unit (Name)
Unit (Code)
Transport Cost (Leones/Unit)
Price Sold (Leones/unit)
Farm Gate Product 1 Product 2
Village Product 1 Product 2
C/Dom Hdqts
Product 1 Product 2
Lumor Mkt Product 1 Product 2
Freetown Product 1 Product 2
Other _________
Product 1 Product 2
Who do you Sell to? 1 = Another Producer; 2 = Trader; 3 = Govt |__||__||__|How many times did you sell last year? 1 = Once; 2 = 2‐5 times; 3 = more than 5 times |__|
84
85
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ANNEX 2
INDICATIVE BUSINESS PLAN ‐ MONTHLY BUSINESS FORECASTS FOR PROCESSING AND EXPORT OF SIERRA LEONE HONEY
Sales Forecast Sales Forecast Month
1 Month 2
Month 3 Month 4 Month 5
Month 6 Month 7
Month 8 Month 9 Month 10
Month 11
Month 12
Sales Row 1 0.00% $0 $0 $0 $900,000 $0 $0 $0 $900,000 $0 $0 $0 $900,000 Row 2 0.00% $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Total Sales $0 $0 $0 $900,000 $0 $0 $0 $900,000 $0 $0 $0 $900,000 Direct Cost of Sales Cost of Producing Honey 0.00% $0 $0 $187,500 $0 $0 $187,500 $0 $0 $187,500 $0 $0 $187,500 Wax & Popoli 0.00% $0 $0 $37,500 $0 $0 $37,500 $0 $0 $37,500 $0 $0 $37,500 Various Accessories 0.00% $0 $0 $4,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Subtotal Direct Cost of Sales $0 $0 $229,000 $0 $0 $225,000 $0 $0 $225,000 $0 $0 $225,000
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Personnel Personnel Plan Month
1 Month 2
Month 3
Month 4
Month 5
Month 6
Month 7
Month 8
Month 9
Month 10
Month 11
Month 12
General Manager $1,250 $1,250 $1,250 $1,250 $1,250 $1,250 $1,250 $1,250 $1,250 $1,250 $1,250 $1,250 Finance/Administrative Manager $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 Technical Officers x 3 $2,250 $2,250 $2,250 $2,250 $2,250 $2,250 $2,250 $2,250 $2,250 $2,250 $2,250 $2,250 Assistant x 3 $1,500 $1,500 $1,500 $1,500 $1,500 $1,500 $1,500 $1,500 $1,500 $1,500 $1,500 $1,500 Drivers x 2 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 Security/Cleaners x 4 $400 $400 $400 $400 $400 $400 $400 $400 $400 $400 $400 $400 Laboratory Assistant $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 Total People 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 Total Payroll $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 Profit and Loss
Month 1 Month 2
Month 3 Month 4
Month 5
Month 6 Month 7
Month 8 Month 9 Month 10
Month 11
Month 12
Sales VAT Rate
$0 $0 $0 $900,000
$0 $0 $0 $900,000 $0 $0 $0 $900,000
Direct Cost of Sales $0 $0 $229,000 $0 $0 $225,000 $0 $0 $225,000 $0 $0 $225,000 Other Costs of Sales 0.00% $417,317 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Total Cost of Sales $417,317 $0 $229,000 $0 $0 $225,000 $0 $0 $225,000 $0 $0 $225,000 Gross Margin ($417,317) $0 ($229,000) $900,00
0 $0 ($225,00
0) $0 $900,000 ($225,000
) $0 $0 $675,000
Gross Margin % 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 100.00%
0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 75.00%
Expenses VAT
Rate
Payroll $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 Marketing/Promotion
0.00% $5,000 $0 $0 $3,000 $0 $0 $3,000 $0 $0 $3,000 $0 $0
Depreciation $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $73,751
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Month 1 Month 2
Month 3 Month 4
Month 5
Month 6 Month 7
Month 8 Month 9 Month 10
Month 11
Month 12
Rent 0.00% $60,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Fuel 0.00% $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 Insurance 0.00% $27,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Payroll Taxes (National Insurance, etc.)
10.00% $750 $750 $750 $750 $750 $750 $750 $750 $750 $750 $750 $750
Hospitality 0.00% $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 General Administrative Exp
0.00% $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000
Total Operating Expenses
VAT Rate
$109,250 $17,250 $17,250 $20,250 $17,250 $17,250 $20,250
$17,250 $17,250 $20,250 $17,250
$91,001
Profit Before Interest and Taxes
($526,567) ($17,250)
($246,250) $879,750
($17,250)
($242,250)
($20,250)
$882,750 ($242,250)
($20,250)
($17,250)
$583,999
EBITDA ($526,567) ($17,250)
($246,250) $879,750
($17,250)
($242,250)
($20,250)
$882,750 ($242,250)
($20,250)
($17,250)
$657,750
Interest Expense $3,269 $3,269 $3,269 $5,178 $5,178 $5,178 $7,053 $7,053 $7,053 $8,928 $8,928 $0 Taxes Incurred ($158,951) ($6,156) ($74,856) $262,37
2 ($6,728) ($74,228
) ($8,191)
$262,709 ($74,791) ($8,753) ($7,853)
$175,200
Net Profit ($370,885) ($14,364
) ($174,664) $612,20
1 ($15,699)
($173,199)
($19,112)
$612,988 ($174,512)
($20,424)
($18,324)
$408,799
Net Profit/Sales 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 68.02% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 68.11% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 45.42%
61
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Cash Flow Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Month 7 Month 8 Month 9 Month 10 Month 11 Month 12 Cash Received Cash Sales $0 $0 $0 $900,000 $0 $0 $0 $900,000 $0 $0 $0 $900,000 New Current Borrowing
$392,317 $0 $0 $229,000 $0 $0 $225,000 $0 $0 $225,000 $0 $0
New Fixed Liabilities
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
New Investment Received
$400,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Subtotal Cash Received
$792,317 $0 $0 $1,129,000 $0 $0 $225,000 $900,000 $0 $225,000 $0 $900,000
Expenditures Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Month 7 Month 8 Month 9 Month 10 Month 11 Month 12 Cash Spending $370,885 $14,364 $174,664 $287,799 $15,699 $173,199 $19,112 $287,012 $174,512 $20,424 $18,324 $417,450 Subtotal Spent on Operations
$370,885 $14,364 $174,664 $287,799 $15,699 $173,199 $19,112 $287,012 $174,512 $20,424 $18,324 $417,450
Principal Repayment of Current Borrowing
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $1,071,317
Purchase Fixed Assets
0.00% $80,000 $90,000 $33,305 $82,416 $103,063 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Dividends $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Subtotal Cash Spent
$450,885 $104,364 $207,969 $370,215 $118,762 $173,199 $19,112 $287,012 $174,512 $20,424 $18,324 $1,488,767
Net Cash Flow $341,432 ($104,364) ($207,969) $758,785 ($118,762) ($173,199) $205,888 $612,988 ($174,512) $204,576 ($18,324) ($588,767) Cash Balance $346,432 $242,068 $34,100 $792,884 $674,122 $500,923 $706,811 $1,319,799 $1,145,287 $1,349,863 $1,331,538 $742,772
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Balance Sheet
Starting Balances
Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Month 7 Month 8 Month 9 Month 10 Month 11 Month 12
Assets Current Assets
Cash $5,000 $346,432 $242,068 $34,100 $792,884 $674,122 $500,923 $706,811 $1,319,799 $1,145,287 $1,349,863 $1,331,538 $742,772 Fixed Assets $0 $80,000 $170,000 $203,305 $285,721 $388,784 $388,784 $388,784 $388,784 $388,784 $388,784 $388,784 $388,784 Accumulated Depreciation
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $73,751
Total Fixed Assets
$0 $80,000 $170,000 $203,305 $285,721 $388,784 $388,784 $388,784 $388,784 $388,784 $388,784 $388,784 $315,033
Total Assets $5,000 $426,432 $412,068 $237,405 $1,078,605 $1,062,906 $889,707 $1,095,595 $1,708,583 $1,534,071 $1,738,647 $1,720,322 $1,057,805 Liabilities and Capital
Current Liabilities
Current Borrowing
$0 $392,317 $392,317 $392,317 $621,317 $621,317 $621,317 $846,317 $846,317 $846,317 $1,071,317 $1,071,317 $0
Subtotal Current Liabilities
$0 $392,317 $392,317 $392,317 $621,317 $621,317 $621,317 $846,317 $846,317 $846,317 $1,071,317 $1,071,317 $0
Total Liabilities
$0 $392,317 $392,317 $392,317 $621,317 $621,317 $621,317 $846,317 $846,317 $846,317 $1,071,317 $1,071,317 $0
Paid‐in Capital
$39,000 $439,000 $439,000 $439,000 $439,000 $439,000 $439,000 $439,000 $439,000 $439,000 $439,000 $439,000 $439,000
Retained Earnings
($34,000) ($34,000) ($34,000) ($34,000)
($34,000) ($34,000) ($34,000)
($34,000) ($34,000) ($34,000) ($34,000) ($34,000) ($34,000)
Earnings $0 ($370,885)
($385,249)
($559,912)
$52,288 $36,589 ($136,610)
($155,722) $457,266 $282,754 $262,330 $244,005 $652,805
Total Capital $5,000 $34,115 $19,751 ($154,91 $457,288 $441,589 $268,390 $249,278 $862,266 $687,754 $667,330 $649,005 $1,057,805
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Starting Balances
Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Month 7 Month 8 Month 9 Month 10 Month 11 Month 12
2) Total Liabilities and Capital
$5,000 $426,432 $412,068 $237,405 $1,078,605 $1,062,906 $889,707 $1,095,595 $1,708,583 $1,534,071 $1,738,647 $1,720,322 $1,057,805
Net Worth $5,000 $34,115 $19,751 ($154,91
2) $457,288 $441,589 $268,390 $249,278 $862,266 $687,754 $667,330 $649,005 $1,057,805
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ANNEX 3
INDICATIVE BUSINESS PLAN ‐ MONTHLY BUSINESS FORECASTS FOR PROCESSING AND EXPORT OF SIERRA LEONE PINEAPPLES Sales Forecast Sales Forecast Month
1 Month 2
Month 3
Month 4
Month 5
Month 6
Month 7
Month 8
Month 9
Month 10
Month 11
Month 12
Sales VAT Rate
International Market 0.00% $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 Local Market 0.00% $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 Pineapple Suckers 0.00% $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 Total Sales $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 Direct Cost of Sales VAT
Rate Month 1
Month 2
Month 3
Month 4
Month 5
Month 6
Month 7
Month 8
Month 9
Month 10
Month 11
Month 12
Cost of Suckers 0.00% $48,200 $48,200 $48,200 $48,200 $48,200 $48,200 $48,200 $48,200 $48,200 $48,200 $48,200 $48,200 Cost of Fertilizers 0.00% $13,750 $13,750 $13,750 $13,750 $13,750 $13,750 $13,750 $13,750 $13,750 $13,750 $13,750 $13,750 Plastic Covering 0.00% $9,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Subtotal Direct Cost of Sales $70,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950
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Personnel Personnel Plan Month
1 Month 2
Month 3
Month 4
Month 5
Month 6
Month 7
Month 8
Month 9
Month 10
Month 11
Month 12
General Manager $2,400 $2,400 $2,400 $2,400 $2,400 $2,400 $2,400 $2,400 $2,400 $2,400 $2,400 $2,400 Deputy General Manager/Financial Controller
$1,625 $1,625 $1,625 $1,625 $1,625 $1,625 $1,625 $1,625 $1,625 $1,625 $1,625 $1,625
Accountant/Administrative Manager
$975 $975 $975 $975 $975 $975 $975 $975 $975 $975 $975 $975
Sr Marketing Assistant $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 Sr Sales Assistant $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 Administrative/Finance Assistant $400 $400 $400 $400 $400 $400 $400 $400 $400 $400 $400 $400 Administrative Assistant $350 $350 $350 $350 $350 $350 $350 $350 $350 $350 $350 $350 Packers x 25 $1,750 $1,750 $1,750 $1,750 $1,750 $1,750 $1,750 $1,750 $1,750 $1,750 $1,750 $1,750 Harvesters x 25 $1,750 $1,750 $1,750 $1,750 $1,750 $1,750 $1,750 $1,750 $1,750 $1,750 $1,750 $1,750 Planters x 50 $3,500 $3,500 $3,500 $3,500 $3,500 $3,500 $3,500 $3,500 $3,500 $3,500 $3,500 $3,500 Sucker Harvesters x 10 $700 $700 $700 $700 $700 $700 $700 $700 $700 $700 $700 $700 Tractor Operators X 6 $900 $900 $900 $900 $900 $900 $900 $900 $900 $900 $900 $900 Truck Drivers x 4 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 Security/Cleaners x 5 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 Farm Managers x 10 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 Total People 132 132 132 132 132 132 132 132 132 132 132 132 Total Payroll $24,050 $24,050 $24,050 $24,050 $24,050 $24,050 $24,050 $24,050 $24,050 $24,050 $24,050 $24,050
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Profit and Loss Pro Forma Profit and Loss
Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Month 7 Month 8 Month 9 Month 10 Month 11 Month 12 Sales VAT
Rate $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3
Direct Cost of Sales
$70,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950
Other Costs of Sales
0.00%
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Total Cost of Sales
$70,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950 $61,950
Gross Margin ($70,947) ($61,947) ($61,947) ($61,947) ($61,947) ($61,947) ($61,947) ($61,947) ($61,947) ($61,947) ($61,947) ($61,947) Gross Margin % ‐
2364900.00%
‐2064900.00%
‐2064900.00%
‐2064900.00%
‐2064900.00%
‐2064900.00%
‐2064900.00%
‐2064900.00%
‐2064900.00%
‐2064900.00%
‐2064900.00%
‐2064900.00%
Expenses VAT
Rate
Payroll $24,050 $24,050 $24,050 $24,050 $24,050 $24,050 $24,050 $24,050 $24,050 $24,050 $24,050 $24,050 Marketing/Promotion
0.00%
$2,670 $0 $0 $2,670 $0 $0 $2,670 $0 $0 $2,670 $0 $0
Depreciation $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $45,205 Land Rent 0.00
% $1,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Rates 0.00%
$1,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Insurance (Fixed Assets)
0.00%
$4,093 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Payroll Taxes (National Insurance, etc.)
10.00%
$2,405 $2,405 $2,405 $2,405 $2,405 $2,405 $2,405 $2,405 $2,405 $2,405 $2,405 $2,405
General Administrative
0.00%
$20,020 $20,020 $20,020 $20,020 $20,020 $20,020 $20,020 $20,020 $20,020 $20,020 $20,020 $20,020
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Exp. Fuel 0.00
% $12,352 $12,352 $12,352 $12,352 $12,352 $12,352 $12,352 $12,352 $12,352 $12,352 $12,352 $12,352
Loan Interest 0.00%
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Total Operating Expenses
VAT Rate
$67,590 $58,827 $58,827 $61,497 $58,827 $58,827 $61,497 $58,827 $58,827 $61,497 $58,827 $104,032
Profit Before Interest and Taxes
($138,537) ($120,774) ($120,774) ($123,444) ($120,774) ($120,774) ($123,444) ($120,774) ($120,774) ($123,444) ($120,774) ($165,979)
EBITDA ($138,537) ($120,774) ($120,774) ($123,444) ($120,774) ($120,774) ($123,444) ($120,774) ($120,774) ($123,444) ($120,774) ($120,774) Interest Expense
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Taxes Incurred $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Net Profit ($138,537) ($120,774) ($120,774) ($123,444) ($120,774) ($120,774) ($123,444) ($120,774) ($120,774) ($123,444) ($120,774) ($165,979) Net Profit/Sales ‐
4617900.00%
‐4025800.00%
‐4025800.00%
‐4114800.00%
‐4025800.00%
‐4025800.00%
‐4114800.00%
‐4025800.00%
‐4025800.00%
‐4114800.00%
‐4025800.00%
‐5532633.33%
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Cash Flow Pro Forma Cash Flow
Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Month 7 Month 8 Month 9 Month 10 Month 11
Month 12
Cash Received Cash from Operations
Cash Sales $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 Subtotal Cash from Operations
$3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3
Additional Cash Received
VAT Rate
VAT Received (Output Tax)
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
VAT Repayments $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 New Current Borrowing
$1,520,266 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $608,106 $0
New Other Liabilities (interest‐free)
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
New Fixed Liabilities
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Sales of Other Current Assets
0.00% $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Sales of Fixed Assets
0.00% $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
New Investment Received
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Subtotal Cash Received
$1,520,269 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $3 $608,109 $3
Expenditures Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Month 7 Month 8 Month 9 Month 10 Month
11 Month 12
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Expenditures from Operations
Cash Spending $138,540 $120,777 $120,777 $123,447 $120,777 $120,777 $123,447 $120,777 $120,777 $123,447 $120,777 $120,777 Subtotal Spent on Operations
$138,540 $120,777 $120,777 $123,447 $120,777 $120,777 $123,447 $120,777 $120,777 $123,447 $120,777 $120,777
Additional Cash Spent
VAT Rate
VAT Paid Out (Input Tax)
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
VAT Payments $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Principal Repayment of Current Borrowing
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Other Liabilities Principal Repayment
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Fixed Liabilities Principal Repayment
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Purchase Other Current Assets
0.00% $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Purchase Fixed Assets
0.00% $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Dividends $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Subtotal Cash Spent
$138,540 $120,777 $120,777 $123,447 $120,777 $120,777 $123,447 $120,777 $120,777 $123,447 $120,777 $120,777
Net Cash Flow $1,381,729 ($120,774) ($120,774) ($123,444) ($120,774) ($120,774) ($123,444) ($120,774) ($120,774) ($123,444) $487,332 ($120,774) Cash Balance $1,419,229 $1,298,455 $1,177,681 $1,054,237 $933,463 $812,689 $689,245 $568,471 $447,697 $324,253 $811,585 $690,811
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Balance Sheet Pro Forma Balance Sheet
Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Month 7 Month 8 Month 9 Month 10 Month 11 Month 12 Assets Starting
Balances
Current Assets
Cash $37,500 $1,419,229
$1,298,455
$1,177,681
$1,054,237
$933,463 $812,689 $689,245 $568,471 $447,697 $324,253 $811,585 $690,811
Other Current Assets
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Total Current Assets
$37,500 $1,419,229
$1,298,455
$1,177,681
$1,054,237
$933,463 $812,689 $689,245 $568,471 $447,697 $324,253 $811,585 $690,811
Fixed Assets Fixed Assets $409,25
0 $409,250 $409,250 $409,250 $409,250 $409,250 $409,250 $409,250 $409,250 $409,250 $409,250 $409,250 $409,250
Accumulated Depreciation
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $45,205
Total Fixed Assets
$409,250
$409,250 $409,250 $409,250 $409,250 $409,250 $409,250 $409,250 $409,250 $409,250 $409,250 $409,250 $364,045
Total Assets $446,750
$1,828,479
$1,707,705
$1,586,931
$1,463,487
$1,342,713
$1,221,939
$1,098,495
$977,721 $856,947 $733,503 $1,220,835 $1,054,856
Liabilities and Capital
Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Month 7 Month 8 Month 9 Month 10 Month 11 Month 12
Current Liabilities
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Current Borrowing
$0 $1,520,266
$1,520,266
$1,520,266
$1,520,266
$1,520,266
$1,520,266
$1,520,266
$1,520,266
$1,520,266 $1,520,266 $2,128,372 $2,128,372
Other Current Liabilities
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Subtotal Current Liabilities
$0 $1,520,266
$1,520,266
$1,520,266
$1,520,266
$1,520,266
$1,520,266
$1,520,266
$1,520,266
$1,520,266 $1,520,266 $2,128,372 $2,128,372
Fixed Liabilities
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Total Liabilities
$0 $1,520,266
$1,520,266
$1,520,266
$1,520,266
$1,520,266
$1,520,266
$1,520,266
$1,520,266
$1,520,266 $1,520,266 $2,128,372 $2,128,372
Paid‐in Capital
$484,250
$484,250 $484,250 $484,250 $484,250 $484,250 $484,250 $484,250 $484,250 $484,250 $484,250 $484,250 $484,250
Retained Earnings
($37,500)
($37,500) ($37,500) ($37,500) ($37,500) ($37,500) ($37,500) ($37,500) ($37,500) ($37,500) ($37,500) ($37,500) ($37,500)
Earnings $0 ($138,537)
($259,311)
($380,085)
($503,529)
($624,303)
($745,077)
($868,521)
($989,295)
($1,110,069)
($1,233,513)
($1,354,287)
($1,520,266)
Total Capital
$446,750
$308,213 $187,439 $66,665 ($56,779) ($177,553)
($298,327)
($421,771)
($542,545)
($663,319) ($786,763) ($907,537) ($1,073,516)
Total Liabilities and Capital
$446,750
$1,828,479
$1,707,705
$1,586,931
$1,463,487
$1,342,713
$1,221,939
$1,098,495
$977,721 $856,947 $733,503 $1,220,835 $1,054,856
Net Worth $446,75
0 $308,213 $187,439 $66,665 ($56,779) ($177,553
) ($298,327)
($421,771)
($542,545)
($663,319) ($786,763) ($907,537) ($1,073,516)