In 1960, the world population was 3 billion but last year it became 7 billion and it is set to become 9 billion by 2040. The world population is rising at a fast stride and the supreme problems faced by the growing population is a scarcity of clean water, food and energy. At the current rolled it is estimated that 70 % more food will be required to feed the growing population by 2050 and with the quickly changing environment new limits on agricultural production has been created, in nonconformity to, the increasing demand for food.
With the rise in demand for food, the price of food grains increased in the last decade at a fast pace. The current cycle of rising food prices started in 2000 and in 2007, the food prices surged to very high levels resulting in starvation and riots in countries such as Egypt and Haiti. As the value of land is increasing, investors are rushing to own farmlands in different parts of the world as a trend for investing in sustainable agriculture and global food security.
It is believed the soil in Africa is very fertile having a good quantity of organic matter, which can produce a quality crop without the use of fertilizer. Africa is playing a major role in the global arena in offering millions of hectares on lease for investment in agro - forestry projects which involves growing food grains on wasteland and reforestations for creating carbon sinks. Many forested land area in Sudan, Kenya, Sierra Leone and Nigeria are offered through free market policies, which involves structural adjustment programs to suit agro - forestry. Millions of hectares of land have been negotiated by investment firms for agro - forestry projects in West Africa because there is the need for modernization of agriculture and introduction of new ways to enhance productivity to meet the growing demand for food. The developing countries offer agricultural land and investors benefit from the profit earned from the sale of agricultural products. Also these opportunities create employment opportunities and offer economic growth of the local population.
The land in West Africa is very fertile, which can be used to grow sugar, oil, rice, and many other types of food. In 2009, the World Bank estimated approximately 60 million hectares of land in developing countries is either under lease or purchased for the purpose of investment. The main purpose is to provide food security, human rights, education, health facilities and employment opportunities to the local population and the investors are benefiting from the sale of harvest and land appraisal. The investment land in West Africa helps to fight hunger crisis and rice farming generates carbon credits.
Sierra Leone recently celebrated 50th independence but it has not seen proper development in the past 5 decades and is not prosperous since gaining independence from Britain, in 1951, although, it owns huge mineral deposits and natural resources. With the new changes in land owning polices and growing investments, the government aims to provide employment opportunities, education and infrastructure development in Sierra Leone.
