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Effects of Large-Scale Acquisition on Food Insecurity in Sierra Leone

Author

Listed:
  • Genesis Tambang Yengoh

    (Lund University Center for Sustainability Studies—LUCSUS, Fingatan 10, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden)

  • Frederick Ato Armah

    (Frederick Ato Armah, Department of Geography, The University of Western Ontario, ON N6A 3K7, Canada)

Abstract

The recent phenomenon of large-scale acquisition of land for a variety of investment purposes has raised deep concerns over the food security, livelihood and socio-economic development of communities in many regions of the developing world. This study set out to investigate the food security outcomes of land acquisitions in northern Sierra Leone. Using a mixture of quantitative and qualitative research methods, the study measures the severity of food insecurity and hunger, compares the situation of food security before and after the onset of operations of a land investing company, analyzes the food security implications of producing own food versus depending on wage labour for household food needs, and evaluates initiatives put in place by the land investing company to mitigate its food insecurity footprint. Results show an increase in the severity of food insecurity and hunger. Household income from agricultural production has fallen. Employment by the land investing company is limited in terms of the number of people it employs relative to the population of communities in which it operates. Also, wages from employment by the company cannot meet the staple food needs of its employees. The programme that has been put in place by the company to mitigate its food insecurity footprint is failing because of a host of reasons that relate to organization and power relations. In conclusion, rural people are better off producing their own food than depending on the corporate structure of land investment companies. Governments should provide an enabling framework to accommodate this food security need, both in land investment operations that are ongoing and in those that are yet to operate.

Suggested Citation

  • Genesis Tambang Yengoh & Frederick Ato Armah, 2015. "Effects of Large-Scale Acquisition on Food Insecurity in Sierra Leone," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(7), pages 1-35, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:7:y:2015:i:7:p:9505-9539:d:52743
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    4. A. M. Abdi & A. Vrieling & G. T. Yengoh & A. Anyamba & J. W. Seaquist & C. C. Ummenhofer & J. Ardö, 2016. "The El Niño – La Niña cycle and recent trends in supply and demand of net primary productivity in African drylands," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 138(1), pages 111-125, September.
    5. Atenchong Talleh Nkobou & Andrew Ainslie & Stefanie Lemke, 2022. "Broken promises: a rights-based analysis of marginalised livelihoods and experiences of food insecurity in large-scale land investments in Tanzania," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(1), pages 185-205, February.
    6. Abdul-Hanan Abdallah & Michael Ayamga & Joseph A. Awuni, 2023. "Impact of land grabbing on food security: evidence from Ghana," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(7), pages 6071-6094, July.
    7. Frank Biermann & Ina Möller, 2019. "Rich man’s solution? Climate engineering discourses and the marginalization of the Global South," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 151-167, April.
    8. Bottazzi, Patrick & Crespo, David & Bangura, Leonard Omar & Rist, Stephan, 2018. "Evaluating the livelihood impacts of a large-scale agricultural investment: Lessons from the case of a biofuel production company in northern Sierra Leone," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 128-137.
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    10. Renzaho, Andre M.N. & Kamara, Joseph K. & Toole, Michael, 2017. "Biofuel production and its impact on food security in low and middle income countries: Implications for the post-2015 sustainable development goals," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 503-516.

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