Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) seriously affects cassava (Samura et al., 2013; Fargette et al., 1988). There is limited information on tuberous root yield loss and the profitability of growing improved and local varieties infected with the cassava mosaic virus for tuber and gari production in Sierra Leone. The objectives of the study were to determine yield loss associated with cassava mosaic disease and conduct cost benefit analysis (budgets and break-even analysis) on cassava production using two improved varieties (SLICASS 4 and 6) compared against the local susceptible variety Cocoa, for gari production and Cocoa as a poundable enterprises for the boil and eat market. Activity 1 involved the establishment of a yield loss trial using the paired plot technique. Activity 2 assessed productivity of cassava and gari production. Data collected were analysed using the analytical frame work that incorporates the concept of gross margin analysis as describe by Brown (1979). This included cost benefit analysis (CBA), the net social benefit (NSB) or the excess of total benefit over total cost represents the net present value (NPV) and The Internal Rate of Returns (IRR).The yield loss associated with the local variety Cocoa under this system was 4.27 t/ha which is equivalent to 38.92% yield loss resulting from the cassava mosaic disease infection. SLICASS 4 and SLICASS 6 recorded positive returns to production of tubers and gari. The local variety Cocoa enterprises for gari under the same condition recorded a negative returns even in the 6 year. However Cocoa for the boil and eat market had the highest profit level. The implication of this study is that breeding effort should be geared towards high yielding mosaic resistant varieties that are poundable more profitable and suits the cultural and domestic demand of the producers, processors and consumers.

This research examines the market and welfare effects of three food security policy options in Sierra Leone in response to the high rate of rice importation and rising rice prices over the last decade. These policies aimed at curbing the rate of rice importation, promoting local rice production, and enhancing welfare of smallholder rice farmers in rural communities. The policies investigated included: 1) reinstating tariffs on rice imports, 2) promoting value-chain strengthening interventions that increase production of locally produced rice and 3) instituting a quota (or some quantity restriction) on rice imports. A log-linear comparative static displacement model was used to carry out the analysis. For the first policy, 20%, 30% and 40% shocks were introduced in the equilibrium system to represent decreases in the quantity of rice imported as a result of reinstating tariffs on imported rice. Results revealed that welfare of consumers and or smallholder farmers of locally produced rice was enhanced by 9.4% at a 10% tariff increase and 17.8% at a 20% tariff increase. Consumers of imported rice had their welfare enhanced by 3.5% at a 10% tariff increase while welfare was dis-enhanced by 5.4% at a 20% tariff increase. With a 10% increase in the supply of locally produced rice, there was a corresponding welfare enhancement on smallholder rice farmers and consumers by 14.43% and by 27% for a 20% increase in supply. Marginal increases were recorded for consumers of imported rice. The results show that the optimal policy in the current post-Ebola national recovery environment is one that increases local rice production through cultivation intensification and rice value chain efficiency.

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