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f one had to select two words to describe Guinea, one would need to choose contradictions and challenges. While the country possesses almost half of the worlds bauxite reserves (the ore from which aluminum is derived) in addition to significant iron, gold, and diamonds, 50 percent of its population lives below the poverty line. Guineas extensive economic potential is constrained by the deficiencies of a vastly inadequate infrastructure, notably rural roads, irrigation and water supply. With almost threequarters of the population under 35, unemployment is also a serious problem. Around one-third of young Guineans are out of work due, among other factors, to the gap between adequate training and the needs of the economy. Despite its rich mineral resources, it is agriculture rather than mining that is Guineas most important economic sector, employing 84 percent of the labor force and contributing 26 percent of GDP in 2011. As such, it plays a prominent role in the welfare of Guinean society.
The fertile soil of Guinea and the countrys favorable climate are eminently suitable for the development of a wide range of crops. It is a potential that remains untapped, largely due to the weakness of the countrys human resources. This represents an overwhelming obstacle to development, further reducing the chances of the country meeting the Millennium Development Goals by the target date of 2015. Since its inception, OFID has contributed a total of US$107m to fight poverty in Guinea, by financing transport, water supply and sewerage, education, industry, agriculture and agroindustry projects. Financed jointly with the Islamic Development Bank and the Guinean government, the Tliml Integrated Rural Development project is a good example of OFIDs monetary support to the country. The Tliml region is a poor province of around 280,000 inhabitants, where agriculture is dominated by rain-fed crop production. The aim of this multifaceted project, to which OFID contributed a loan of US$5m, was to improve food security and living standards by increasing agricultural production and improving access to health and education. It comprised several activities, such as the development of 675 hectares of land through the installation of an irrigation network and drainage system, the construction of leveled plots and a small dam, plus the establishment of farmers associations and training programs.
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With its fertile soil and favorable climate Guinea is well positioned to tap into an as yet unrealized agricultural potential.
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