Africa > Central Africa > Equatorial guinea > Equatorial guinea Agriculture Profile

Equatorial guinea: Equatorial guinea Agriculture Profile

2013/12/10

Equatorial Guinea Increases Protected Forests

The country does not produce a significant quantity of cereals. The staple foods are sweet potatoes, cassava and plantains. With a population of about 757 000, the total cereal requirement for 2013, overwhelmingly supplied through commercial imports, is estimated at about 28 000 tonnes, including 8 000 tonnes of rice and 20 000 tonnes of wheat.

ifferent studies and diagnoses reveal that Equatorial Guinea has a high potential for the development of agricultural production, with a favorable climate for all kinds of tropical and subtropical crops, fertile soil, favorable rainfall, and abundant water reserves and rivers.

Crops currently produced in Equatorial Guinea include, among others: cassava, peanuts, banana and plantain, sugar cane, taro, palm oil, citrus fruit, avocado, mango, atanga, pineapple, cereals such as corn, vegetables, tomatoes, onions, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, eggplants and forage crops.

In recent years inflation in Equatorial Guinea has been higher than in other countries of the Franc Zone, due to rapidly rising domestic demand since the oil boom began in the mid-1990s. According to the IMF, average inflation rate increased from 2.8 percent in 2007 to 4.7 percent in 2008 and to 5.7 in 2009. Consequently rates began to decline in 2010 to 5.3 percent and to 4.8 in 2011 but began to increase again. In 2013, the average inflation rate is estimated at 5 percent compared to 5.5 percent in 2012.

Equatorial Guinea's (Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial) President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo concluded his visit to the Republic of Ghana where he met with President John Evans Atta Mills to discuss cooperation and assistance to develop the Equatorial Guinea's agricultural sector. This visit follows President Obiang's recent trip to China and Korea where he signed cooperation agreements and courted business leaders about investment opportunities in his country.

During his visit to Ghana, President Obiang reinforced the country's message of peace, solidarity and teamwork "in order for our two states to achieve development goals." Both states share common interests in the Gulf of Guinea and the reciprocal exchange of goods and materials. President Obiang referred to the need for both countries to work together to maintain peace and security in the world.

The two delegations signed a joint statement that sets out several agreements in various sectors such as agriculture, education, promotion of women, fisheries, transport and hydrocarbons.

President Obiang also recalled that Ghana and Equatorial Guinea are two countries linked from colonial times to the point that the seeds of cacao – the product that is now one of the main resources of Ghana – were brought from Equatorial Guinea. President Obiang visited places of interest in Accra, such as the Institute for Research and Transformation of Cocoa and Coffee.

As part of the effort to promote development of and investment in the agricultural sector, Minister of State for Agriculture and Forestry, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue recently gave instructions to create efficiencies throughout all departments of the country's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Before departing Ghana, President Obiang visited the embassy of Equatorial Guinea, where he held a meeting with Equatorial Guinean students studying in different colleges and universities in Ghana. During the visit, a representative of the group of students voiced their concerns and challenges they are experiencing. President Obiang advised them to "avoid bad habits that can alter your path and destroy your mind. You must be useful in helping to defend the country and to be helpful for the future." President Obiang offered the group of students a sum of 50,000 euros to help cover their needs during their stay in Ghana.

Crops currently produced in Equatorial Guinea include, among others: cassava, peanuts, banana and plantain, sugar cane, taro, palm oil, citrus fruit, avocado, mango, atanga, pineapple, cereals such as corn, vegetables, tomatoes, onions, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, eggplants and forage crops.

Different studies and diagnoses reveal that Equatorial Guinea has a high potential for the development of agricultural production, with a favorable climate for all kinds of tropical and subtropical crops, fertile soil, favorable rainfall, and abundant water reserves and rivers.

Areas of investment opportunities include:
• Production and processing of cocoa and coffee
• Fruit and vegetable production
• Processing and canning of juices
• Production and processing of palm oil
• Plantation production and processing of coconuts
• Soap manufacturing
• Fertilizer manufacturing
• Production and processing of cassava
• Production and processing of sugar cane
• Salt refineries
• Agribusiness

The agricultural sector provides exceptional opportunities to develop small local initiatives for industrialization based on cooperatives.

Animal production includes chickens, ducks, pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits and guinea pigs. Areas of investment opportunities include:

• Slaughter & Vaccination center
• National Animal Insemination center
• Integral swine production
• Integral broiler production
• Integral livestock production
• Integral egg production

The Wood industry is also blossoming and is currently under scrutiny and development phase. Opportunities and areas of investment are:

• Mobile sawmills
• Round wood processing
• Industrial wood processing
• Pulp and paper production

 Fisheries / Aquaculture

Equatorial Guinea has vast maritime exposure. Longer at sea than on the mainland, it has 28,051.46km of land area, 314,000km2 of exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and 644km of coastline. This geography, as well as the structure of its marine sector and a well-developed river network, provides the country with an abundant variety of fish stocks.

Equatorial Guinea is ready to utilize these resources and develop its fishing industry in order to supply the domestic market, transform the country into a regional leader of marine production and marketing, and become the main supplier of fish products for the sub-region.

Data based on marine production over the past few decades indicates that the fishery resources in Equatorial Guinea have an annual production potential of around 75,000 tons.
 

 

Despite this data, however, there is a continued need to conduct studies to ensure the latest information is available on fishery resources in Equatorial Guinea, including identifying new fishing grounds. There are exceptional opportunities to develop the salted fish industry, to increase fish farming and to create centers of transformation and conservation of fishery products, as well as to train human resources in the sector. In this regard, there is the need to invest in suitable land infrastructure for packaging, processing and storage of fishery products.

Opportunities and areas of investment are:
• Building fishing ports
• Development of aquaculture in salt & fresh waters
• Fishing production project with Sonapesca and supply of fishing vessels
• Sea products transformation plant
• Artisanal fisheries
• Assembly and repair of nets and gear