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Large private agricultural projects and job creation: From discourse to reality. Case study in Sella Limba, Sierra Leone

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  • Palliere, Augustin
  • Cochet, Hubert

Abstract

Large private agricultural projects are described by their promoters as “win-win” partnerships: investments supposedly make it possible to increase agricultural productivity in developing countries, and to create thousands of jobs in the industry. These arguments, which are used in Sierra Leone where the priority of the agricultural policy is to attract foreign capitals, rely on the conviction that lands occupied by large private agricultural projects are “under-farmed” or even “unused” and that, therefore, their opportunity cost is nil. However, where family farms are well-established, the differential between the jobs created and those destroyed must be examined carefully. This is what we propose to do in this article, by examining the case of an ethanol and electricity production unit relying on an industrial sugar cane plantation of more than 12 500 ha, in the centre of the country. By analysing family farming in a control region close to that of the project, we show that family farming supplanted by the project would enable more farm labourers to make a living than the number of jobs potentially created by the industrial production unit.

Suggested Citation

  • Palliere, Augustin & Cochet, Hubert, 2018. "Large private agricultural projects and job creation: From discourse to reality. Case study in Sella Limba, Sierra Leone," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 422-431.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:76:y:2018:i:c:p:422-431
    DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2018.02.017
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Klaus Deininger & Derek Byerlee & Jonathan Lindsay & Andrew Norton & Harris Selod & Mercedes Stickler, 2011. "Rising Global Interest in Farmland : Can it Yield Sustainable and Equitable Benefits?," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 2263, December.
    4. von Braun, Joachim & Meinzen-Dick, Ruth Suseela, 2009. ""Land grabbing" by foreign investors in developing countries: Risks and opportunities," Policy briefs 13, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
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    Cited by:

    1. Rémy, Clémentine & Cochet, Hubert, 2020. "“Win-win” agricultural investment projects put to the test: the case of the IDSP project as promoted by the World Bank in Zambia," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), vol. 101(2-3), August.
    2. Wegenast, Tim & Richetta, Cécile & Krauser, Mario & Leibik, Alexander, 2022. "Grabbed trust? The impact of large-scale land acquisitions on social trust in Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    3. Clémentine Rémy & Hubert Cochet, 2020. "“Win-win” agricultural investment projects put to the test: the case of the IDSP project as promoted by the World Bank in Zambia," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, INRA Department of Economics, vol. 101(2-3), pages 363-389.
    4. Clémentine Rémy & Hubert Cochet, 2020. "“Win-win” agricultural investment projects put to the test: the case of the IDSP project as promoted by the World Bank in Zambia," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, Springer, vol. 101(2), pages 363-389, December.

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