Sierra Leone Livelihood Zoning Report

Transcription

1 Sierra Leone Livelihood Zoning Report A SPECIAL REPORT BY THE FAMINE EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS NETWORK (FEWS NET) OCTOBER P a g e

2 CONTENT Introduction Methodology Overview of Rural Livelihoods in Sierra Leone Timeline of Hazard Events in Sierra Leone The National Livelihood Zone Map of Sierra Leone The National Seasonal Calendar of Sierra Leone Livelihood Zones Descriptions and Calendars of Sierra Leone Livelihood Zone 1 Tonkolili Food Crops and Gold Livelihood Zone 2 Bombali Food Crops, Peppers, Tobacco and Livestock Livelihood Zone 3 Western Rice, Root Crops, Cereals and Trade Belt Livelihood Zone 4 Coastal Food Crops and Fishing Livelihood Zone 5 Kailahun-Kenema-Pujehun Cash Crops, Food Crops and Trade Livelihood Zone 6 Kono-Kenema-Bo Rice, Tree Crops and Timbers Livelihood Zone 7 Koinadugu Food Crops, Livestock and Trade Livelihood Zone 8 Follosoba Dembellia and Wara Wara Yagala Vegetables Livelihood Zone 9 Freetown Peri-Urban Livelihood Zone 10 Rice Bowl Areas Annex I: List of Chiefdoms and Population by Livelihood Zone Annex II: Workshop Participants 2 P a g e

3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This work was done by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), a USAID activity, in collaboration with partners from the Sierra Leone Government, United Nations Agencies and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). The Sierra Leone Government was represented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, and Statistics Sierra Leone. The United Nations was represented by the Food and Agricultural Organization and World Food Program. Non-governmental organizations were represented by Save the Children, World Vision and ACF. Our particular thanks go to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS) for attending the official opening of the workshop and allowing the participation of District Agriculture Officers and Senior Staff from Freetown. Our special thanks go to workshop participants who contributed their valuable time, in-depth knowledge of local livelihoods patterns and for engaging in meaningful discussions and intensive group work. These discussions led to the updating of the 2010 Sierra Leone Livelihood zone map which will serve as a knowledge base for FEWS NET activities in the country. They can also be used by the government and other partners. The map, descriptions and calendars are produced primarily as a knowledge base for FEWS NET s activities in the country to derive early warning indicators for food security analysis. They can also be used for various purposes by FEWS NET, the Government and other partners 1. This report was prepared by Amadou Diop, FEWS NET West Africa Regional Food Security Specialist (RFSS)- Livelihoods, with support from Alusine Kamara, FEWS NET Sierra Leone National Technical Manager (NTM), and under the technical oversight of Stephen Browne, FEWS NET Livelihoods Coordinator. The authors views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. 1 For more guidance on the applications of the livelihood zone map and profiles visit FEWS NET s website (especially the Guidance Application of Livelihood Zone Maps and Profiles). 3 P a g e

4 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ACF CILSS DAO EVD FAO FEWS NET HEA LH MAFFS MFMR SSL WFP USAID Action Contre la Faim Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel District Agriculture Officers Ebola Virus Disease Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Famine Early Warning Systems Network Household Economy Analysis Livelihood Zone Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Statistics Sierra Leone United Nations World Food Program United States Agency for International Development 4 P a g e

5 INTRODUCTION A livelihood zone is a geographical area where people generally have the same options for obtaining food and income and engaging in trade to meet their life and livelihood needs. The process of livelihood zoning involves the boundary delimitation of a region or country into different zones which share common livelihood characteristics. The map and description which identify relevant variables by geographical location are used as a starting point for early waring analysis. The livelihood zoning is the first step of the Household Economy Analysis (HEA) framework which is the methodology that FEWS NET uses as the foundation for its livelihoods activities. To inform its integrated food security analysis, FEWS NET continuously expands and updates its livelihoods knowledge base. In 2010, FEWS NET and partners from the Government Ministries, CILSS and WFP undertook the update of the first mapping of food economy zones completed in Sierra Leone in 2001 by WFP. The 2010 update identified ten livelihood zones. Six years have passed since then and rural livelihoods in Sierra Leone may have changed due to several factors such as the changes on international market commodity prices (iron ore, cocoa and coffee) and the impacts of Ebola on crop production, markets functioning, food prices and casual labor work. In October 2016, FEWS NET and partners updated the 2010 livelihood zoning in order to have a better understanding of current rural livelihoods. METHODOLOGY The methodology used to update this livelihood zoning consisted of two main steps: 1. Before the livelihood zoning update exercise took place, a literature review was undertaken to gather secondary information, with a focus on essential thematic maps and data. Participants were asked to come with any relevant livelihoods information they might have, particularly those from the district level including district agriculture officers, extension officers and monitoring and evaluation officers. 2. A livelihood zoning update workshop was held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, from October 24th to October 26th in which key partners from Government ministries, departments and agencies, UN agencies and international NGOs participated (for more details, see Annex II). The workshop itself was made up of the four main sub-steps: A. A presentation on FEWS NET with a focus on its livelihoods-based analytical approach, followed by a presentation introducing the Household Economy Analysis (HEA) approach and the livelihood zoning. HEA is the methodology that FEWS NET uses as the foundation for its livelihoods activities. The key elements of a livelihood zone and its process were presented and discussed. Livelihood zoning products are primarily designed to serve as a framework for deriving early warning indicators. B. The participants were then invited to review the 2010 livelihood map based primarily on their knowledge of local livelihoods and relevant secondary information when available. Participants went through the process in plenary and reviewed the livelihood zones one by 5 P a g e

6 one to capture significant changes, if any, on livelihood patterns. In particular, participants were also asked where necessary to (i) split large livelihood zones if they find them no longer homogenous in terms of livelihoods or to (ii) merge different livelihood zones which might now have similar livelihood patterns. The list of chiefdoms included in each livelihood zone was accordingly reviewed and finalized in plenary. C. In a next step, participants updated the livelihood zones descriptions by filling in a new livelihood zone description form while considering the description of the 2010 zoning when relevant. The livelihood zones description provides essential information on: (i) the geography, (ii) the main livelihood patterns, (iii) the market flows and access, (iv) the seasonal migration and overwhelmingly (v) the productive assets, sources of income and common coping strategies disaggregated between poorer and wealthier households. D. In a last step, participants developed, for each livelihood zone, a comprehensive seasonal calendar of the zones and a primary food, income and expenditure calendar for poor households in each of the zones. Seasonal calendars show the timing of (i) the different seasons, (ii) the main livelihood activities, (iii) the secondary livelihood activities and (iv) the main hazards. The primary food, income and expenditure calendar for poor households offer a good picture of the seasonality of (i) the staple foods and sources, (ii) the main sources of income and (iii) the peak period of the non-food main expenditures. 6 P a g e

7 OVERVIEW OF RURAL LIVELIHOODS IN SIERRA LEONE Sierra Leone is located on the west coast of Africa and covers an area of about 72,000 square kilometers (28,000 square miles). It extends from latitude 7 degrees north to 10 degrees north, and from longitude 10 degrees west to 14 degrees west. The Republic of Guinea borders it on the north and northeast, and the Republic of Liberia borders it on the east and southeast. On the west and southwest, the Atlantic Ocean extends approximately 340 kilometers (211 miles). Administratively, Sierra Leone is divided into four regions: Northern Province, Eastern Province, Southern Province and Western Province. Each region is subdivided into districts, and each district is divided into chiefdoms. Overall, there are 14 districts and 149 chiefdoms. Sierra Leone s economy proved resilient in the face of two major exogenous shocks: the Ebola epidemic, and the collapse of iron ore prices and associated loss of production in Since the last quarter of 2015, economic growth has resumed, and it remains on an upward trend that is further supported by new investments in mining, agriculture and fisheries. Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is projected to recover from -21.1% in 2015 to 4.3% in Rising from a base of 9.5% (year-on-year) in December 2015, inflation has reached 10.9% in July The local currency (the Leone) depreciated by 20.4 percent (yearon-year) in June Sierra Leone has a tropical climate with two pronounced seasons: a rainy season from May to November, and a dry season from December to April. Rainfall is highest in the coastal areas and decreases inland and at the eastern border of the country. Climate in Sierra Leone is determined mainly by the seasonal movements of two air masses: the north-easterly Continental Tropical Winds (commonly called North- East Trade Winds) and the southwesterly Maritime Tropical Winds (commonly called South-West Monsoon). The present distribution of vegetation in Sierra Leone has been influenced not only by factors of climate and soil but also by human activity. At present, the agroecological zones are the tropical closed forest and the savannah woodlands in the uplands while swamp forest (woodlands) and seasonally flooded grasslands constitute the agro-ecologies in the Lowlands. Forest ecosystems can be divided into closed forest and transition or secondary forest. Most of the closed forest has been converted into secondary forest and forest regrowth or farm bush as a result of clearing for use in slash-and-burn or shifting cultivation farming and for firewood. The area is dominated by food and tree crop farming so ruminant production is of minor importance. Savannah woodland is mostly found in the Northern Province towards Guinea, especially in Koinadugu, Bombali and Kono districts. There is also a strip of savannah along the coast of Bonthe and Pujehun districts. Swamps or marsh are mostly found along the coast in the Southern Province. The vegetation is mainly mangroves, scattered patches of bushes and savannah woodland. They are divided into: inland valley swamps, mangrove swamps, and bolilands. Several factors, including hydrological conditions such as the frequency and duration of flooding, depth of the water level, soil type, and physiography determine the vegetation and composition of plant communities. The agricultural sector, comprising food crops, tree crops, fishery, livestock, and forestry is the backbone of Sierra Leone s economy. The vast majority of the population depends on the sector for its livelihood. The major food crops are rice, cassava, maize, millet, sorghum, sweet potato, and groundnut. They are produced by smallholders. Rice is the most important staple food crop and is grown in three different ecologies: mangrove swamp rice, upland rice and lowland rice. The second staple food crop grown across 7 P a g e

8 the country is cassava. The main areas of production are in the south-west, central and far north. Other major annual food crops include sorghum, maize, millet, sweet potato and groundnut. The main tree crop is the oil palm, used for its perennial fruit that can be processed into palm oil and sap which can be transformed into palm wine. The other main perennial crops are citrus, sugarcane, cocoa, coffee, and coconut. Tubers and leaves are consumed by households and cassava products (gari, flour and chips), are in high demand in urban areas. Common livestock in Sierra Leone are cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry. The civil war significantly depleted the level of livestock in the country, although numbers have recovered since the end of the war in Most cattle are found in the north of the country and cattle rearing is dominated by the Fula ethnic group who own the majority of the cattle and often manage cattle owned by other groups. Poultry rearing consists mainly of chickens, with some guinea fowl and Muscovy ducks. Most of the animals are owned by households in the Northern Province, especially in Koinadugu, Kambia, Bombali and Port Loko districts. The marine fisheries of Sierra Leone are divided into two major sectors: (i) artisanal fishing operating in estuaries and inshore waters and extending from the shoreline to a depth of m, and (ii) industrial fishing, operating in the open deeper waters. The western tip of Sherbro Island delimits two contrasting coastal waters. The coastal sector north of Sherbro Island is more productive than the southern sector that borders Liberia. Most of the artisanal fishing activities occur around the estuaries of Scarcies River, Sierra Leone River and Sherbro River, and also around Yauoni Bay. There are a number of fish landing sites along the Sierra Leone coast. Port Loko and the Western Area districts have more landing sites which are sampled for artisanal fish catches. The coastal sector where the artisanal fishermen land their catch consists of the following districts: Kambia, Port Loko, Western Area, Moyamba, Bonthe and Pujehun. In 2014, the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak resulted in a serious shock to the agriculture and food sectors of Sierra Leone. Production of rice, the major food crop, declined significantly compared to In particular, cereal production in the Kailahun District was substantially affected. The outbreak began during the crop planting season and grew during the crop maintenance period, and then expanded rapidly during the critical harvesting period for the staple rice, maize and cassava crops. Beyond its impact on the agriculture and food sector, the EVD has seriously affected all other sectors of the economy. Mining, manufacturing and service sectors have been the hardest hit. According to the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU), Sierra Leone s real GDP grew by just 4.6 percent in 2014, compared to 20.9 percent in 2013, the year before the EVD outbreak. The disruption of food chains due to the closing of markets, road blocks and quarantines, restricted cross-border trading, and changes in traders behavior resulting from the fear of Ebola, significantly reduced the income of EVD-affected communities, including producers, consumers and traders. Specifically, income-generating activities typically led by women, such as small trading, were hit hard. The ban on bush meat also deprived many rural households of an important source of food and income. Since the Ebola outbreak ended, the economic situation has begun to improve. Compared to the 2010 zoning, the number of zones didn t change, therefore there is no significant change in the livelihood map. However, it should be noted that in the district of Tonkolili, the iron ore industry has become part of the local livelihoods and provides a significant source of income for many households. Two livelihood zones have driven the attention of participants: the largest one, zone 3: Western Rice, Root Crops, Cereals and Trade Belt and the smallest one, zone 8: Follosoba Dembellia and Wara Wara Yagala Vegetables. Zone 3, situated in the western part of the country, was wide ranging from Guinea in the North to Liberia in the South. Some participants have good reason to wonder why we should consider this vast 8 P a g e

9 territory as homogeneous in terms of livelihoods. The tendency to highlight the importance of livestock in the southern part of this zone was deemed not necessary when compared to the importance of livestock for the northern part of the country. Therefore, particular attention should be given to livestock when carrying out livelihood-based field assessments or analyses for this zone. Zone 8 was composed of only two chiefdoms (Follosoba Dembellia and Wara Wara Yagala) of the district of Koinadugu. Participants questioned whether this geographical area, with only 1% of the rural population, should be kept as a distinct livelihood zone. However, this area is known for the unique and high production of exotic vegetables such carrots, cabbage, etc. The same types of vegetables are produced in the peri-urban area of the capital city, Freetown, but to a lesser extent. In the neighboring chiefdoms, vegetables are also produced but not the exotic ones for which zone 8 is known for. The preponderance of some livelihood activities for the same livelihood zones were highlighted particularly in Koinadugu where food cropping seems to be more typical and significant than livestock rearing in terms of the number of households engaged in these activities. That s the main reason why the name is revised to reflect this relative importance of food crops. 9 P a g e

10 TIMELINE OF HAZARD EVENTS IN SIERRA LEONE Year Main Hazard Events (Negative or Positive) Nationwide wild bush fire between December 2015 to March Nationwide pest outbreak on cassava - Depreciation of the local currency (SLL) compared to USD since January Floods in Bo, Bonthe and Pujehun districts Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Outbreak with negative impacts on crop production and markets functioning Significant increase in the annual economic growth (20.1%) with overall positive impacts on livelihoods and economic access to food No major hazard event occurred during this year. 10 P a g e

11 THE NATIONAL LIVELIHOOD ZONE MAP OF SIERRA LEONE THE NATIONAL SEASONAL CALENDAR OF SIERRA LEONE Seasons Rainy season r r r r r r r r r r r r r r Dry season d d d d d d d d d d Lean season l l l l l l Main economic activities Rice Upland p p p p p p p p s s s s w w w w w w h h h h Rice Lowland h h p p p p p s s h h p p s s h h Cassava s s s s w w w w w w w w w w w w h h h h p p p p Maize w h h h p p p p s s s s w w w w h h h p p s s w Sorgum / Millet p p p p p p p p s s s s w w w w w h h h h Sweet Potato p p p p s s s s w w w w h h h h Pepper p p p s s s s w w h h h h h h h h h Groundnut p p p p s s s s w w w w h h Cocoa p p p p p s s s h h h h Coffee h h p p p s s s w w w w h h h h Oil Palm p p p p p p p s s s s s s s h h h h h h h h Secondary activities Livestock peak milk production m m m m m Livestock peak births b b b b b b Fishing Gold mining Peak expenditure Staple foods mp mp mp mp mp mp Education Traditional Ceremonials Hazards Wild Bush Fire Pest infestation Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Flooding Legend p p Land preparation s Sowing/plantinw w Weeding h h Harvest Dec 11 P a g e

12 ZONE 1: Tonkolili Food Crops, Gold and Iron Ore Main livelihood activities Rain fed agriculture (Rice, Cassava, Oil Palm, Sweet Potato, Groundnut, Maize, Yam) Irrigated Agriculture (IVS Rice and Vegetables) Staple foods- poor households Uplands Rice Lowlands Rice (Boli) Lowlands Rice (IVS) Cassava Main income sources Sale of crops Petty trading Sale of back yard poultry Sale of goat Farm labor Gold Mining Iron Ore labor Main productive assets Land: 0.5-1ha Small farm tools Back yard poultry Small ruminants Main markets for the zone Bulk sale of crop Processing of crops Sale of small ruminants Sale of cattle Sale of gold Land: 4-5ha Agricultural machinery Large poultry Small ruminants Cattle Magburaka, Yoni, Mile91, Yele, Matotika, Makali, Masengbe Main hazards and seasonality Grasshopper Erratic rain pattern Wild Bush Fire Water Logging November - March April November December-March June-September The zone located in Tonkolili district is a mixture of hills and plains, with moderately fertile soils and average annual precipitation above 2000mm. Household rely primarily on rain fed agriculture (rice, cassava, sweet potato, groundnut, maize, pigeon pea, yam) and in a lesser extent on irrigated cultivation of inland valley swamp (IVS) rice and vegetables. Widespread surface gold deposits are a bigger feature here than in other areas of the country. Consequently, small-scale goldmining is very common. For several years now, an iron ore company (Shandong Iron and Steel Group) has a mining site within this zone that provides income to households through hired labor. Some households may also own small amounts of livestock dominated by poultry and small ruminants. Main markets for households in this zone include Magburaka, Mile91, Yele, Matotika, Makali and Masengbe. The road network is thin and in poor condition, and distances to major market centers are large. Among the hazards to production, one main problem is shifts in rainfall timing due to climate change, which can result in land being unprepared at the beginning of the season. There is some investment in fencing against rodents and other animals. Wild bush fire is reported to occur every year during the dry season between December and March. Another significant hazard in this zone is water logging during the peak of the rainy season between June and September. The most common coping strategies used by poor households in a bad year include selling more poultry and small ruminants, looking for more hired labor and taking loans from traders with high interest rates. Coping Strategies - Intensification of hired labor Taking loans from traders Sale of more poultry and small ruminants 12 P a g e

13 ZONE 1: Seasonal Calendar Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Seasons Rainy season r r r r r r r r r r r r r Dry season d d d d d d d d d d d Lean season l l l l l Main economic activities upland rice p p p p p p s s s s s w w w w h h h lowland rice(boli) p p p p s s s s s s w w w w h h h h lowland rice(ivs) h h P P P P S S W W h h h h h Cassava(upland) h h h h p p p p p s s s s s w w h h Cassava (lowland) s s w w h h h h p p s s oil Palm w w w w w w h h h h h h h h Gold mining Iorn ore Secondary activities Back yard poultry rearing Small ruminants-peak birhs b b b b b b b b Cattle-peak birth b b b b b b Cattle- peak milk production m m m m m m Hazards Rodent Grasshopper Erratic rainfall partern (climate Change) Wild Bush Fires Water Logging Legend p p Land preparation s Sowing/plantinw w Weeding h h Harvest ZONE 1: Primary Food, Income and Expenditure calendar for poor households Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Staple foods & sources Upland Rice op op op op mk mk mk mk cm cm cm cm cm cm mp mp mp mp op op op op op op Lowland Rice (Boli) op op op op op op mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp c c c c op op op op op op Lowland Rice(IVS) op op op op op op op op op op mp mp mp mp cm cm cm cm cm op op op op op Cassava op op mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp op op op op op mp mp mp mp mp mp op op Oil Palm mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp cm cm cm cm cm cm cm cm op op op op op op op op Sources of income Sale of crops (rice and cassava) Farm Labour Petty trading Sale of Livestock (poultry and small ruminants) Gold mining Peak expenditure Education Health Agricultural inputs Legend op op Own production mp mp Purchase ik ik In kind payments c c Wild foods 13 P a g e

14 ZONE 2: Bombali Food Crops, Peppers, Tobacco and Livestock Main livelihood activities Rain fed agriculture (Rice, Cassava, Tobacco, Pepper, Sweet Potato) Irrigated Agriculture (IVS Rice and onion) Staple foods- poor households Uplands Rice Lowlands Rice (Boli) Lowlands Rice (IVS) Cassava Oil Palm Main income sources Sale of crops Petty trading Sale of back yard poultry Sale of small ruminants Farm labor Main productive assets Land: 0.5-1ha Small farm tools Back yard poultry Small ruminants Main markets for the zone Bulk Sale of crop Processing of crops Sale of small ruminants Sale of cattle Land:4-5ha Agricultural machinery Large poultry Small ruminants Cattle Makeni, Kamakwie, Batkanu, Makoth, Mayawlo, Bo, Kenema Main hazards and seasonality The zone is exclusively located within Bombali district with more open bush and grass-lands and less forest than the southern part of the country. Average annual precipitation is estimated to be generally above 3000mm. Households rely primarily on rain fed agriculture (Rice, Cassava, Tobacco, Pepper, Sweet Potato) and to a lesser extent on irrigated cultivation of IVS rice and onion. Main markets for households in this zone include Makeni, Kamakwie, Batkanu, Makoth, Mayawlo. This zone is bordered by Guinea, allowing for cross-border trade of crops (Rice, Pepper, Palm Oil) via the Tambaka market. The road network is relatively good and markets are relatively accessible. Livestock diseases during the dry season between October to March and livestock damage to crops are major hazards in this zone. Grasshoppers between November and March and wild bush fire between December and March are reported to occur every year. Another significant hazard in this zone is water logging during the peak of the rainy season between June and September. The most common coping strategies used by poor households in a bad year include selling more poultry and small ruminants, looking for more hired labor and taking loans from traders with high interest rate. Grasshopper Livestock diseases Livestock damage to crops Wild Bush Fire Water Logging November - March October - March October - April December-March June-September Coping Strategies - Intensification of hired labor Taking loans from traders Sale of more poultry and small ruminants 14 P a g e

15 ZONE 2: Seasonal Calendar Seasons Rainy season r r r r r r r r r r r r r Dry season d d d d d d d d d d Lean season l l l l l l Main economic activities upland rice p p p p p p p s s s s s w w w w w h h h h h lowland rice(boli) p p p p s s s s s s w w w w h h h h h h lowland rice(ivs) h h P P P P S S W W h h h h h Cassava(upland) h h h h p p p p p s s s s s w w h h Cassava (lowland) s s w w h h h h p p s s oilpalm w w w w w w h h h h h h h h Pepper p p p s s w w w h h h h h Tobacco p p s s s s w w w w h h h h h h Secondary activities Back yard poultry rearing small ruminants (peak births) b b b b b b b b Cattle (peak births) b b b b b b cattle (peak milk production) m m m m m m Hazards Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov rodent grasshopper Erraticrain fall partern(climate Change) Wild Bush Fires Livestock diseases Conflict :Livestock damage to crops Legend p p Land preparation s Sowing/plantinw w Weeding h h Harvest ZONE 2: Primary Food, Income and Expenditure calendar for poor households Dec Staple foods & sources Rice(upland) op op op op mk mk mk mk cm cm cm cm cm cm mp mp mp mp op op op op op op Lowland Rice(boli) op op op op op op mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp c c c c op op op op op op Lowland Rice(IVS) Cassava Oilpalm Sources of income op op op op op op op op op op mp mp mp mp cm cm cm cm cm op op op op op op op mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp op op op op op mp mp mp mp mp mp op op mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp cm cm cm cm cm cm cm cm op op op op op op op op Sale of crops (rice and cassava) Farm iabour petty trading sale of Livestock Peak expenditure Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Education Health Traditional Ceremonials Legend p p Own production mp mp Purchase ik ik In kind payments c c Wild foods 15 P a g e

16 ZONE 3: Western Rice, Root Crops, Cereals and Trade Belt Main livelihood activities Rain fed agriculture (Rice, Cassava, Sweet Potato, Maize, Millet and Groundnut) Irrigated Crops (Vegetables, Maize, Sweet Potato,) Trading (Food Supply e.g. Gari, Palm Oil, Coconut Oil) Staple foods- poor households Rice Cassava Sweet Potato Main income sources Crop sale (rice, cassava, sweet potato, maize, groundnuts) Sale of livestock (small ruminants) On-farm employment by wealthier people Migration for gold mining Main productive assets Land cultivated acre Crude tools (cutlass, hoe and knife) Back yard poultry Small ruminants Main markets for the zone Bulk sale of Crop (rice, cassava, sweet potato, maize, groundnuts) to agencies Sale of livestock (cattle and small ruminants) Trading of crops Land cultivated 5-12 acres Tractors and power tillers Rice threshers and haulers Cattle Small ruminants Barmoi, Moyamba Junction, Furadugu, Yawgoi Main hazards and seasonality Crop Pests Crops and Livestock Farmers conflict Livestock diseases Coping Strategies - November-April Sept to March PPR: November June Newcastle: February-May This is the most populated and one of the largest livelihoods zones, lying mainly in the districts of Bo, Kambia, Moyamba and Port Loko. The zone is a transit area between the east and the coast. Some inland fishing occurs as a result. On the whole, the zone receives between 2,000 mm and 3,000 mm of annual rainfall, less than the coastal belt, but with more in the southern part of the zone than in the northern part. As a result of its size, the zone has a variety of vegetation including mangrove swamps, Boli lands, forest, farm bush and savannah. A mixture of sandy and clay loam soils result in low to medium fertility. The main crop is upland rice, with some swamp and riverain rice added, which becomes the most prevalent rice in the far north. Cassava is grown everywhere to varying degrees, but especially in the middle stretches, while sweet potato is usually a minor crop. As for non-rice cereals, sorghum and millet are grown for domestic use, and maize is grown mainly for sale. The maize is partly destined as processed feed for poultry, which are by far the most frequently kept livestock in this zone and beyond. Cattle are kept beyond the Kambia part, but goats are common and sheep less so. In general, groundnuts are sold more frequently in this zone. Some inland fishing benefits certain communities near the coast. Some households get income from industrial mining labor work (rutile, bauxite and iron ore), but this is a secondary source. The zone is connected to Guinea through Kambia, from which some trading advantage is gained in the rural areas. Collection of wild food (bush yam), hunting, intensification of migration to gold mining, loans with high interest rates from traditional money lenders 16 P a g e

17 ZONE 3: Seasonal Calendar Seasons Rainy season r r r r r r r r r r r r r r Dry season d d d d d d d d d d Lean season l l l l l l Main economic activities Rice upland p p s s w w h h Rice lowland p p s s s w w h h Cassava- Upland h h h h p p p p s s s s w w h h Cassava Lowland s s w w h h p p s s Sweet Potato (Type A) s s w w h h p p s s Maize/Millet p p p s s w w h h h h Groundnut 1st Crop p p s s s w w h h h Groundnut 2nd Crop p p s s w h h Secondary activities Rice Sale Cassava Upland Sale Cassava Lowland Sale Sweet Potato Sale Maize/Millet Sale Hazards Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Crop Pest (Grasshopper, Rodents, weevils) Land Conflict between family land owners and land users Livestock Diseases Crop and livestock farmers conflict Legend p p Land preparation s Sowing/plantinw w Weeding h h Harvest Dec ZONE 3: Primary Food, Income and Expenditure calendar for poor households Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Staple foods & sources Rice op op op op op op op op pm pm mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp pm op op op op Cassava upland op op op op op op op op Sweet potato op op op op op op op Sources of income Sale of crops Sale of small ruminants and backyard poultry Migration to gold mining areas On-farm employment Peak expenditure Schooling 1 1 Ceremonial festivals Legend op op Own production mp mp Purchase ik ik In kind payments c c Wild foods 17 P a g e

18 ZONE 4: Coastal Food Crops and Fishing Main livelihood activities Rain fed Agriculture (Rice, Cassava, Sweet Potato, and Groundnut) Sea and River Fishing Staple foods- poor households Rice and cassava Main income sources Crop sale (rice, cassava, sweet potato, maize, groundnuts) On-farm employment Retail sale of fish Sand mining Main productive assets Land cultivated acres Crude tools (Cutlass, Hoe and Knife) Fishing equipment (Hook and Line and small nets, canoe) Main markets for the zone Bulk sale of Crop (rice, cassava, sweet potato, maize, groundnuts) Trading of crops Whole sale of fish Land cultivated 5-12 acres Tractors and Power Tillers Rice Threshers and haulers Fishing equipment (Large nets, out board engine boats) Mambolo, Shange, Yawgoi, Dema and Lungi Main hazards and seasonality Crop Pests November-April Water borne diseases January- December Storms during the rainy June-July and Sept - October Coping Strategies - The coastal strip is the highest-rainfall area of the country, with annual precipitation above 3000mm, which decreases slightly in the part north of Freetown. Soils are sandy and salinity reduces fertility; rice and cassava are grown throughout, but rice dominates in the north while cassava takes over towards the south. In addition to the upland and inland/swamp rice, mangrove rice is grown on the coast and along major river inlets. The zone is not a big food producer for the national market, but its medium density population is reasonably food self-sufficient. Sweet potatoes are produced only on a small-scale, while groundnuts are more important. Rice and cassava are the main food crops traded. The final destination of the rice is Freetown or Guinea via the Barmoi weekly market in Kambia district. Cassava is first processed into gari before following the same market route as rice. Palm oil is a major sales product, particularly towards the south where it offers more income than cassava or rice. The seaside niche for coconuts results in some coconut oil for sale. The most common livestock is backyard poultry. Fish sales are important, although there is a varying dependence on this income from one community to the next. The main fishing season is from October to January, with smaller catches up to April. The main fishing method is with dragnets, but this crucial equipment is vulnerable to destruction by sharks and also by industrial fishing operations, which also deplete local fish stocks. Storm winds pose a danger to fishing boats. Collection of wild food (bush yam) Intensification of migration to gold mining areas Request loans with high interest rates from traditional money lenders 18 P a g e

19 Zone 4: Seasonal Calendar Seasons Rainy season r r r r r r r r r r r r r r Dry season d d d d d d d d d d Lean season l l l l l l Main economic activities RiceUpland p p p p s s w w w h h h Rice Low Land p p p s s s w w h h h Cassava UpLand s s s h h h p p p s s s s Sweet Potato w w h h p p s s s Maize p p p p s s s w w h h h Groundnut p p p p s s s w w h h h Fishing Secondary activities Palm Oil Processing and Marketing Coconut Oil Processing and Marketing Sand Mining Hazards Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Crop Pests Land Tenure System Legend p p Land preparation s Sowing/plantinw w Weeding h h Harvest Dec ZONE 4: Primary Food, Income and Expenditure calendar for poor households Staple foods & sources Rice Sources of income Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec op op op op op op op op pm pm pm pm pm pm mp mp mp mp op op op op op op crop sales Sale of fish Sand Mining On Farm employment Migration to Gold mining areas Peak expenditure Education Cultural celebrations Legend op op Own production mp mp Purchase ik ik In kind payments c c Wild foods 19 P a g e

20 ZONE 5: Kailahun-Kenema-Pujehun Cash Crops, Food Crops and Trade Main livelihood activities Rain fed cash and food crops (Cocoa, Rice, Coffee, Oil Palm, Cassava, Maize, Rubber) Staple foods- poor households Rice, Cassava and Maize Main income sources Sale of cash crops Sale of food crops Sale of chickens and small ruminants Agricultural labour Migration for off-farm income Main productive assets ha land (food crop) 2-5 ha land (cash crops) Hoes Cutlasses Livestock (chicken, goat and sheep) Main markets for the zone Buedo, Dia, Blama, Largo and Pawama Main hazards and seasonality Crops pests and diseases Wild Bush Fire Flooding Sale of cash crops Sale of food crops Sale of small and large ruminants Bike transportation Trading 3-5 ha land (food crop) 5-15 ha land (cash crops) Power tillers, Tractors, Rice haulers, Cassava processing machines Power saw Livestock (goat, sheep and cattle) Motorbike January-June January-April July -October Coping Strategies - Consumption of wild crops Use farm land as collateral Sending children on vacation to relative in urban areas As in most of the country, households in this zone mostly cultivate rice and cassava for both household food consumption and income. What makes this zone unique in the country is the concentration of palm, cocoa, coffee and kola nut trees. These commodities are a primary source of income for most households either through sales or through employment as farm labor. Mostly wealthier households own plantations while middle and poorer households are employed to maintain and harvest the trees. The ecology of this zone is more hilly terrain and tropical forest cover than the rest of the interior of the country. While timber is in abundance, households rarely cut the trees for income because of a ban on logging in most of the zone. This zone borders both Guinea and Liberia. Kailahun acts as a major frontier market for trading commodities in large quantities. Palm oil, rice and cassava are the most highly sought commodities by Guinea and Liberia, and at times the demand can draw out most of the supply in this region. Depending on market prices, major cash crops are sometimes sold to neighboring countries before entering the global market. Sheep and goats are kept by households, but make up a minor source of food and income. Cattle from Fulani herds are transported in from the north or across the border to be held for a short while until being slaughtered. While diamond and gold mines are located in this zone, they are currently less prevalent and more regulated than in the past. This activity is largely dominated by foreign workers, but can also attract young men in the area who will work for roughly half the rate offered for plantation labor. However, mining works are a localized phenomenon. 20 P a g e

21 ZONE 5: Seasonal Calendar Seasons Rainy season r r r r r r r r r r r r r r Dry season d d d d d d d d d d Lean season food crops l l l l l l Main economic activities Cocoa p p p p p p h h h h h h h h Coffee h h p p p p p p h h Oil Palm p h p h p h h h h h Rubber h h h h p h p h p p h h h h Upland Rice p p p p p p s s s s w w w h h h h h h Low Land (IVS) p p p p p p s s s w w w h h h h Cassava h h h h p p s s s s w w w w h h h h h h h h Maize p p s s w w h h p s w 1 h h h Secondary activities Timber logging Tree crops sale ( coffee, cocoa, rubber, oil palm) Food crops sale ( rice, cassava, maize) Hazards Crop pests (grasshopper) and diseases (black pod) Wild Bush Fire Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Flooding Legend p p Land preparation s Sowing/plantinw w Weeding h h Harvest Dec ZONE 5: Primary Food, Income and Expenditure calendar for poor households Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Staple foods & sources Rice op op op op op op pm pm pm pm mp mp mp c c c op op op op op op op op Cassava op op op op op op pm pm pm pm pm pm mp mp mp mp op op op op op op op op Maize op op op op op op op op Sources of income Sales of cash crops Sales of food crops Agricaltural labour Migration for off farm income Peak expenditure Education 2 2 Rice for seed Festivals 2 Legend op op Own production mp mp Purchase ik ik In kind payments c c Wild foods 21 P a g e

22 ZONE 6: Kono-Kenema-Bo Rice, Tree Crops and Timbers Main livelihood activities Rain fed Rice and cash crops (Rice, Cocoa, Coffee, Oil Palm, Timber) Staple foods- poor households Rice, Cassava and Maize Main income sources Sale of cash crops Sale of food crops Sale of chickens Migration for off-farm income Charcoal burning Fetching firewood Main productive assets ha land (food crop) 2-5 ha land (cash crops) Hoes Cutlasses Livestock (chicken) Main markets for the zone Sale of cash crops Sale of food crops Sale of small ruminants Bike transportation Trading 3-5 ha land (food crop) 5-15 ha land (cash crops) Power tillers, Tractors, Rice haulers, Cassava processing machines Power saw Livestock (goat, sheep) Motorbike Gendehma, Gbongela, Gondama, ashobe coner Deya Main hazards and seasonality Crops pests and diseases Wild Bush Fire Flooding January-June January-April July -October Coping Strategies - Intensification of charcoal burning Intensification of fetching of firewood Gathering and selling of wild fruits This zone shares major livelihood patterns with Zone 5 (Kailahun-Kenema-Pujehun Cash Crops, Food Crops & Trade). Livelihoods are largely dependent on food and cash crop cultivation, and a majority of households add hired hands to their own family labor. Rice and cassava are the major food crops grown, consumed and traded. Cocoa, coffee, and oil palm tree crops are sold and provide a majority of the employment opportunities in the area. Both upland and inland rice are cultivated. Timber plays a greater role in this zone than in surrounding zones. Households harvest trees for charcoal production and to supply domestic construction materials. While this income source is minor in comparison to cash crops, in recent years it has become more important. Plantain and banana are also grown in this zone but to a lesser extent than rice and cassava. Illicit crossborder food crops trading with neighboring Guinea and even with Liberia negatively impact food availability and accessibility within this zone. Diamond and gold mining occurs on a localized level, as in Zone 5, but it has been a more important part of households income than in Zone 5. Most people involved in large scale mining come from other countries in the region. Some mining attracts young men away from agricultural work, but compensation is lower. Mostly this employment is taken on as a form of coping when times are hard. Most households have some poultry, but only a minority raise small ruminants, and cattle for slaughter are largely supplied by Fulani herders. 22 P a g e

23 ZONE 6: Seasonal Calendar Seasons Rainy season r r r r r r r r r r r r r r Dry season d d d d d d d d d d Lean season food crops l l l l l l Main economic activities Upland rice p p p p p p p p w w w w h h h h h h IVS rice p p p p p s s s s w w h h h h Cocoa p p p p s s s h h h h w w Coffee h h p p p s s s w w w w h h h h Oil palm p p p p p p p s s s s s w w w w w h h Cassava p p p p s s s s w w w w h h h Cashew p h p h p p p p s s s s w w w w Secondary activities Timber logging Tree Crops Sales Plantain and banana p p p s s s h h h h Hazards Crop pests (grasshopper)and diseases (black pod) Cross border Trade (yenga - Kailahun, Sukudu in Kono Wild Fire Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Flooding Legend p p Land preparation s Sowing/plantinw w Weeding h h Harvest Dec ZONE 6: Primary Food, Income and Expenditure calendar for poor households Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Staple foods & sources Rice op op op op op op pm pm pm pm mp mp mp c c c op op op op op op op op cassava op op op op op op pm pm pm pm pm pm mp mp mp mp op op op op op op op op Maize op op op op op op op op Sources of income Sales of cash crops Sales of food crops Agri labour migration for off farm jobs Peak expenditure School fees 2 2 Rice for seed Traditional occasions Legend p p Own production mp mp Purchase ik ik In kind payments c c Wild foods 23 P a g e

24 ZONE 7: Koinadugu Food Crops, Livestock and Trade Main livelihood activities Rain fed agriculture (Rice, Cassava, Groundnuts, Sweet Potato, Maize, Sorghum, Pulses and Millet) Livestock (Cattle, Goats, Sheep and Poultry) Trading Staple foods- poor households Rice Cassava Sweet Potato Main income sources Sale of small ruminants Sale of crop production Petty trading Casual work (in the farms and the markets) Main productive assets Land area: acre Basic agricultural tools (cutlasses, hoes, shovels) and seeds Small scale farming (2-5 acre) Chicken, goat Main markets for the zone Bulk sale of crops Sale of cattle and small ruminants Large scale trading Land area : acre Tractor, basic agricultural tools and improved seeds Large scale Farming, (10-20 acre) Sheep, cattle, goat, chicken Makeni, Koinadugu, Tonkolili, Bombali, Freetown, Guinea Main hazards and seasonality Cattle crop damage Wild Bush Fire Pest infestation Coping Strategies - June-August January-March February-April Engage in casual labor Taking loans from money lender and communities Charcoal burning and sale This zone occupies a great part of the higher lying areas of the northeast, with altitudes around 500 meters rising to 700 meters. The vegetation is mainly savannah, forest and grasslands. Population density is low and rainfall ranging from 2,000 mm to 2,500 mm is moderate by Sierra Leone standards. Therefore, the crops grown on the relatively fertile soil are the basic food crops, with inland rice rivaling upland rice in acreage in a number of areas. There is also much millet meaning funde (Digitaria), some sorghum, and importantly pulses including pigeon peas, cowpeas, broad-beans and black-eye peas. There are also appreciable amounts of groundnuts, while cassava and sweet potatoes are of lesser importance. The zone is known for livestock, especially cattle, but this observation needs to be qualified. The cattle are not numerous in relation to the land area and are overwhelmingly owned by the minority population of ethnic Fulani who are specialist herders in countries across West Africa. Apart from Fulani, some households in other ethnic groups do own some cattle but in general people tend to own goats and sheep in very modest numbers although holdings are on the rise. This is also the case for poultry which is owned by larger numbers of people. Other secondary income generating activities in this zone include timber logging, honey harvesting, charcoal production, wild foods collection and hunting. The road network is poor. The main food crops traded are rice in local markets and exported to Guinea, pulses mainly sold to agencies such as WFP for their nutrition interventions, and sorghum and millet for Freetown-based brewing companies through agribusiness centers. Final destination of cattle is primarily Freetown but also Liberia via Kenema and Kailahun. Small ruminants are sold in local markets and neighboring districts. 24 P a g e

25 ZONE 7: Seasonal Calendar Seasons Rainy season r r r r r r r r r r r r r r Dry season d d d d d d d d d d Lean season l l l l Main economic activities rice (IVS) h h p p p p p s s h h p p s s h h rice (upland) p p p p p p p p s s s s w w w w w h h h h groundnut h h p p p p s s s w w h h h p s s s w w h h cassava s s s s w w w w w w w w w w w w h h h h p p p p sweet potato p p p p s s s s w w w w h h h h maize, pulses w h h h p p p p s s s s w w w w h h h p p s s w sorghum, millet p p p p p p p p s s s s w w w w w h h h h Livestock milk production m m m m m Livestock peak births b b b b b b Secondary activities honey harvest and sale timber logging and sale charcoal production and sale wild food collection Bush meat hunting and sale Hazards cattle crop damage wild fire Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov erratic rain fall pest infestaion price hikes Legend p p Land preparation s Sowing/plantinw w Weeding h h Harvest Dec ZONE 7: Primary Food, Income and Expenditure calendar for poor households Staple foods & sources Rice sweet potato op op op op pm pm mk mk mk mk mp mp mp mp mk mk mk mk mp op op op op op mp op op op op op op pm pm cassava pm pm mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp op op op op op op pm pm Sources of income petty trading labour sale of small ruminants sale of crops (rice, cassava, sweet potato, sorhum, millet, maize) Peak expenditure Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Schooling Traditional occasions Legend op op Own production mp mp Purchase ik ik In kind payments c c Wild foods 25 P a g e