The Ebola epidemic continues to disrupt the economies of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. The crisis is resulting in flat or negative income growth, creating large fiscal needs and threatens to erode food security in all three countries, as they work to eradicate the virus.
Approximately 215,000 tons of rice are estimated to be imported in Sierra Leone in 2015 according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The figure is higher compared to 2014 due to the decrease of production levels brought by the Ebola outbreak. The disease disrupted various agricultural activities which triggered the increase of rice price. Several measures were taken by the Sierra Leonean government to contain the outbreak: closure of borders, quarantine measures and other measures which caused the shortfall of labour force in the agricultural sector, thus led to low rice production. In order to cover the deficit and meet the consumption demand of 913,000 tons, Sierra Leone is estimated to import 215,000 tons of rice.
According to the World Bank 2014 report on the epidemic, there was an estimated fall in rice production in Guinea by 190,000 tons caused by the Ebola crisis. While in Liberia, rice production decreased by 10 percent in Lofa County in 2014 because of fear among farmers, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In the countries affected by the Ebola Outbreak, preliminary information showed a decrease of agricultural production and demand, disruption of the functioning of markets, a deterioration of livelihoods, a decline in the purchasing power of households and a risk of food in sufficient quantity and quality.
http://oryza.com/sierra-leone-2015-rice-imports-estimated-215000-tons-slightly-2014
http://www.worldbank.org/content/dam/Worldbank/document/Economic%20Impact%20Ebola%20Update%202%20Dec%202014.pdf
http://cilss.bf/IMG/pdf/PREGEC_PRESS_RELEASE-Nov2014__EN_docx.pdf