Meat imports in Sierra Leone: Analysis, constraints and policy implications

Abstract

This article examines the factors contributing to the shortages of meat and other livestock products in Sierra Leone, and analyses the import market for meat in Sierra Leone. A two-stage least squares procedure is used to determine the import demand responses for meat in Sierra Leone. The empirical estimates suggest that real exchange rates, income, trade restrictions, domestic production and prices of meat and competing products are the key determinants of import demand responses for meat in Sierra Leone. The relative sizes of the estimates reveal that policies targeted at domestic meat production, income, trade and real exchange rate adjustments have more significant effects than pricing policies.