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Guinea's agriculture and mining sectors strive to complement not compete Guinea's agriculture and mining sectors strive to complement not compete
(3 months later)
As she ended her presentation to potential investors in London last week, Jacqueline Sultan, Guinea's agriculture minister, directed a plea to her colleague in charge of mining in the front row. "Please protect our red monkeys and our white toads," she said.As she ended her presentation to potential investors in London last week, Jacqueline Sultan, Guinea's agriculture minister, directed a plea to her colleague in charge of mining in the front row. "Please protect our red monkeys and our white toads," she said.
It was a telling moment at the Invest in Guinea event at the Westbury hotel. Sultan had been outlining Guinea's farming potential and plans to make it an agricultural powerhouse by 2025. But the entreaty indicated the tension between the mining and agriculture sectors in this impoverished, corrupt and mineral-rich country. Guinea boasts huge mineral resources, potentially worth $222bn (£173bn).It was a telling moment at the Invest in Guinea event at the Westbury hotel. Sultan had been outlining Guinea's farming potential and plans to make it an agricultural powerhouse by 2025. But the entreaty indicated the tension between the mining and agriculture sectors in this impoverished, corrupt and mineral-rich country. Guinea boasts huge mineral resources, potentially worth $222bn (£173bn).
Some of the world's biggest mining companies – Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and Newmont – operate in Guinea. It has almost half of the world's reserves of bauxite, which is used to make aluminium, and significant iron ore, gold and diamond reserves. Alpha Condé, 75, who won the country's first democratic election in 2010 and is promising an era of stability and good governance, wants to tap the country's vast resources to alleviate poverty. The government put forward a mining code in September 2011 that includes provisions to combat corruption, protect the environment and review all existing contracts.Some of the world's biggest mining companies – Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and Newmont – operate in Guinea. It has almost half of the world's reserves of bauxite, which is used to make aluminium, and significant iron ore, gold and diamond reserves. Alpha Condé, 75, who won the country's first democratic election in 2010 and is promising an era of stability and good governance, wants to tap the country's vast resources to alleviate poverty. The government put forward a mining code in September 2011 that includes provisions to combat corruption, protect the environment and review all existing contracts.
But the mines overlap heavily with areas earmarked for agricultural development, hence Sultan's concern that mining does not disrupt plans for farming, which employs 70% of the active population – although it represents less than 20% of GDP.But the mines overlap heavily with areas earmarked for agricultural development, hence Sultan's concern that mining does not disrupt plans for farming, which employs 70% of the active population – although it represents less than 20% of GDP.
"It is a challenge for the two sectors to coexist," she told the Guardian. "Given the choice between a sector that employs 100,000 people or the capacity to feed 12 million people, I prefer the latter.""It is a challenge for the two sectors to coexist," she told the Guardian. "Given the choice between a sector that employs 100,000 people or the capacity to feed 12 million people, I prefer the latter."
So far, the government seems to be putting its money where its mouth is concerning agriculture. Thanks to $71m in aid for 2011-12, Guinea increased spending on farming from 2% of GDP to 20%, double the target set under the Maputo agreement of 2003, when African governments pledged to spend 10% on agriculture.So far, the government seems to be putting its money where its mouth is concerning agriculture. Thanks to $71m in aid for 2011-12, Guinea increased spending on farming from 2% of GDP to 20%, double the target set under the Maputo agreement of 2003, when African governments pledged to spend 10% on agriculture.
In other moves to boost farming, the Institute of Agronomic Research of Guinea last year delivered more than 3,000 tonnes of improved rice seed and 150 tonnes of maize seed. Fertiliser and subsidised herbicides have been distributed and agricultural experts have been trained to advise farmers. About 150 new tractors were introduced in 2011 to begin the process of mechanisation.In other moves to boost farming, the Institute of Agronomic Research of Guinea last year delivered more than 3,000 tonnes of improved rice seed and 150 tonnes of maize seed. Fertiliser and subsidised herbicides have been distributed and agricultural experts have been trained to advise farmers. About 150 new tractors were introduced in 2011 to begin the process of mechanisation.
Smallholder networks have been created and large-scale programmes are being developed with the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, a UN agency.Smallholder networks have been created and large-scale programmes are being developed with the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, a UN agency.
For Sultan, both large-scale and smallholder farming will be needed. Guinea is seeking agribusiness to develop rice, rubber, palm trees, cashew, coffee, spices and other cash crops. However, it has laid down several conditions to avoid land "grabs". Land will not be sold, leases are for up to 20 years – not 99, as is the case in some countries – and companies must link up with smallholder farmers.For Sultan, both large-scale and smallholder farming will be needed. Guinea is seeking agribusiness to develop rice, rubber, palm trees, cashew, coffee, spices and other cash crops. However, it has laid down several conditions to avoid land "grabs". Land will not be sold, leases are for up to 20 years – not 99, as is the case in some countries – and companies must link up with smallholder farmers.
The challenges are enormous, from the poor state of roads to the lack of agricultural markets, rural credit, warehouses, irrigation and cold storage. The agricultural processing industries that once existed in cotton, fruit pulping and groundnut oil no longer operate. This is because of neglect during the 50 years of military coups and despotic regimes that followed Guinea's independence from France in 1958.The challenges are enormous, from the poor state of roads to the lack of agricultural markets, rural credit, warehouses, irrigation and cold storage. The agricultural processing industries that once existed in cotton, fruit pulping and groundnut oil no longer operate. This is because of neglect during the 50 years of military coups and despotic regimes that followed Guinea's independence from France in 1958.
Sultan is concerned that, in the rush to exploit the vast mineral resources, people will leave the land to work in mines or cities. She fears that the desire for short-term gains through the mining sector will hamper agriculture, although in the most optimistic scenario the two sectors will complement each other, with wealth from mining contributing to agricultural development.Sultan is concerned that, in the rush to exploit the vast mineral resources, people will leave the land to work in mines or cities. She fears that the desire for short-term gains through the mining sector will hamper agriculture, although in the most optimistic scenario the two sectors will complement each other, with wealth from mining contributing to agricultural development.
That was the sentiment voiced by some expatriate Guineans last week. "Mining is a big opportunity for agriculture," said one. "In distributing fertilisers to farmers, the president sent a big message."That was the sentiment voiced by some expatriate Guineans last week. "Mining is a big opportunity for agriculture," said one. "In distributing fertilisers to farmers, the president sent a big message."
As for Sultan's plea to Mohamed Lamine Fofana, the mining minister, to protect biodiversity, he declared that red monkeys and white toads would come to no harm. "They are fully protected," he responded.As for Sultan's plea to Mohamed Lamine Fofana, the mining minister, to protect biodiversity, he declared that red monkeys and white toads would come to no harm. "They are fully protected," he responded.
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