Guinea is located in West Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, with Mali to its north. The country’s total land area is 245,857 sq km, and is comparatively slightly larger than the United Kingdom. Its climate is tropical, with a monsoonal rainy season and a dry season. Of the total land area, only four percent is utilized for cultivated crops, while another three percent supports permanent crops such as fruit- and nut-bearing trees. Environmental issues facing Guinea include deforestation, lack of potable water, desertification and soil contamination and erosion. Overpopulation in forest regions is also an issue. The country’s population is approximately 10 million, with 76 percent of Guinea’s labor force dedicated to agriculture. Economic growth rose slightly in 2006-08, primarily due to increases in global demand for, and commodity prices of minerals and agricultural products. Yet, in that same period, the country’s standard of living fell. The country’s substantial mineral resources have the potential to create greater parity for its citizens. In particular, Guinea’s bauxite deposits represent nearly half of the world’s reserves. This growing mining sector accounts for more than 70 percent of Guinea’s exports. Guinea’s agricultural products include rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava, bananas and sweet potatoes. The North and West Africa Division is responsible for IFDC activities in Guinea.
Current IFDC Projects in Guinea
- Marketing Inputs Regionally (MIR Plus), 2009-2013
MIR Plus is improving policy and regulatory environments in the 15 nations of the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS). The project is increasing the use and efficiency of agro-inputs, improving the availability of technical and market information and using technology to link producers’ organizations with agro-dealers. The project links 2.23 million farmers to agro-dealers who will help train and supply the farmers. The project should increase maize and rain-fed rice yields by 20 percent for targeted farmers in Ghana and Nigeria, and increase irrigated rice yields in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone by 20 percent.
DONORS: Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), the Netherlands’ Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS)
Recent IFDC Projects in Guinea
- Marketing Inputs Regionally (MIR), 2002-2008
The MIR project increased the affordability and accessibility of quality inputs for targeted smallholders in West Africa, and provided technical support and training for farmers and dealers. MIR developed regional and national regulatory frameworks, supported the advancement of farmer and agro-dealer associations, facilitated dialogue along the value chain and implemented sustainable development of the cotton agro-input sub-sector.
DONOR: The Netherlands’ Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS)
Guinea Information
Guinea Articles
MIR Plus (Taken from IFDC Report Volume 36, No. 2)