Juice processing can help improve and stabilize fruit farmer income through providing for more predictable demand and market access. The processors can also help the fruit farmers develop and access needed inputs and tools as it will benefit them as well in the long run, thus helping farmers improve productivity and income (9).

Juice processing creates predictable demand and links with established supply chains, so less fruit is wasted.

Juice processing reduces fruit waste resulting in less flies, and thus less fly borne diseases.

Selling fruit directly to one or a few suppliers may lead to increased dependence on one market for the smallholder farmers, which can be a problem if that fruit processor fails, or even for price negotiation.

While juice production is expected to improve farmer income, the overall challenges of the Sierra Leone context such as poor roads, poor infrastructure, lack of education, lack of finance, and so forth all create a risks for this investment and reduce chance of success unless mitigated (9).

A lack of credible and up to date data on farmers in Sierra Leone creates difficulties with measurement of actual impact.

A lack of access to tools and education by the farmers may compromise their production and yields and in turn create supply chain difficulties for juice production.

Improved income for smallholder farmers through guaranteed markets and better pricing, while also resulting in better nutrition for the general population via access to more juice.

The Mid Term National Development Plan 2019 - 2023 (3) has agriculture as a key policy area, and within this specifically mentions development of agricultural value chains as well as promotion of organic farming (which mango farming often is). The goal is to move up the value chain into more industrial activities which processing into juice is part of, although not mentioned explicitly.

National Agricultural Transformation Strategy 2019-2023 (7) plans to put agriculture at the centre of economic development and improve value chains as well as linkages between smallholder farmers and larger investments, which is relevant for juice processing.

Fiscal incentive: Any business registered in Sierra Leone and having at least 20% Sierra Leonean ownership shall be entitled to corporate tax exemption including exemption from corporate income tax plus 50% exemption from withholding taxes on dividends paid by agribusiness companies and complete exemption from import duty on agricultural machinery (18).

Financial incentive: The Apex Bank and its Community Banks established in key rural areas targets smallholder farming groups, and micro and small-scale entrepreneurs, including women and youths, for financing (19).

Other incentives: The Sierra Leone Agribusiness Development Fund (managed by KPMG) was created to address financing and technical assistance challenges faced by agribusinesses that have plans to work with smallholder farmers in out-grower schemes (20).

The Customary Land Rights Act, no. 20 of 2022 (5) provides for the protection of customary land rights, the elimination of discrimination under customary law, and the management and administration of land subject to customary law. This law now guarantees women’s equal rights and access to land and bans industrial development (mining, plantations, farming, and housing) in protected, conserved or ecologically sensitive areas (wetlands, wildlife habitats, steep slopes and old growth or virgin forests). This is important to be aware of if juice producers look to expand their farming operations.

Sierra Leone’s Income Tax and Finance Acts include income tax exemptions for 10 years from agricultural activities; exemption from import duty on farm machinery, agro-processing equipment, agro-chemicals and other key inputs; 125% tax deduction for expenses on Research and Development, training and export promotion (25).

Sierra Agra, Capitol Foods - Sierra Juice, Kings Beverages, Dole/Sierra Tropical.

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Ministry of Lands, Country Planning and Environment, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.

International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Bank, World Food Programme (WFP), African Development Bank (AfDB), European Union (EU).

Concern Worldwide, National Association of Farmers of Sierra Leone, ActionAid, Word en Daad, FairMatch Support, Commercial Agricultural Producers and Processors Association.