Theory question 111
West Africa and ECOWAS(a) On an outline map of West Africa show and name: (i) two countries important for the production of rubber (ii) one important town in the rubber producing area in each country (iii) two countries important for the production of groundnuts (iv) one important town in the groundnut producing area in each country
(b) Describe the process of production of either rubber or groundnuts, in the country shown on your map
(c) Explain any three factors which hinder the large scale production of either rubber or groundnuts in West Africa.
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(a) Rubber: Liberia (Harbel), Nigeria (Sapele/Benin); groundnuts: Nigeria (Kano), Senegal (Kaolack), also Gambia, Niger
(b) Rubber: seedlings raised in nurseries and planted in rows; trees mature in 6-7 years; tapping – a sloping cut in the bark early in the morning; latex drips into cups, collected and taken to the factory; mixed with acid to coagulate; rolled into sheets, dried/smoked and graded for export (or concentrated latex)
(Groundnuts: planted at start of rains on ridges, weeded, harvested after 3-4 months, dried, shelled, bagged and sent to buying points/pyramids, crushed for oil)
(c) Rubber: long maturity period and high capital cost; shortage of labour for daily tapping; competition from synthetic rubber and falling prices; pests and diseases; old low-yielding trees; poor processing
Keep (b) and (c) to the same crop.