I said I wouldn't talk about it buuuuut there are things that are not as obvious as oil, cashews or peanuts for repats like us but which nevertheless worth getting started.
If you read the page "About us" I told you that coconuts were widely produced in GB and that the island of Bolama, for example, was known at some late time for its coconuts. Why not go visit the place and create a partnership with the population to take over a small coconut byproduct factory?
A few years ago I discovered the adventure of Guillaume Taufflieb, a Frenchman who went to São Tomé and who invested in coconuts and the business that results from it. I didn't find the replay videos but his journey was filmed by prohibited zone in 2 episodes. As in any other material, the secret lies in the multitude of by-products to be obtained from it. According to Gunter Pauli, who conceptualized the notion of blue economy, it is very easy to fall into the trap of specialization (it requires less capital initially) but the waste of specialization is so many sources untapped revenue.
This seems obvious for the coconut, but it would be a shame to settle for milk or oil when the brown coconut fiber can be used as insulation, in carpets, brushes or brooms, the shell transformed into bowl and charcoal... In short, everything is good in the coconut! And consider adopting coconut trees to unite around your replanting project!
To continue in the same sector, there was a large production of pineapples on the Manjack islands of Jeta and Pecixe. So many pineapples that they finish rotted on the vine...
My father often talks to me about small fruits or nuts whose scientific name is not known by the population. It would be interesting to contact agricultural researchers to suggest a subject for study. Who knows if we have the new argan on our soil? I remember a nut that tasted like hazelnut but the structure was flaky. Surprising and delicious.
Let’s (still) talk a little about cashew nuts
While preparing the Instagram publication of this article, I came across some very important information regarding cashew: Cashew nut oil would have nutritional properties similar to olive oil... EUREKA!
When I think of the population who season their green salad with olive pomace oil (refined - odorless - colorless - Zero nutritional benefit; mixed with 10 or 15% virgin oil to give a semblance of smell and color - toxic if not produced in a regulated manner) and who cooks with GMO Brazilian soybean oil, I say to myself FFFFFrreez! With cashew oil and local peanut oil, we have what we need to PROPERLY feed our population without poisoning them.
Today, veganism is encouraging people to turn to plant-based protein sources. Brazilians are ahead with cashew steaks!
What else?
In bulk, you have the choice among all the things that grow in this country:
Sugar cane and derivatives: On the Bambadinca area, throughout the dry season, it is possible to have sugarcane. I had the project for sugar cane juice production myself soon, but it would be advisable to boycott white sugar which is devoid of any nutrients except calories.
The brandy market is already well represented in GB; it would be a shame to create additional competition.
The fruuuuuits! Mangoes, soursop, star fruit, foli for the more exotic... No pesticides, no GMO, full of vitamins... I dream that one day my son will be able to eat a fruit salad/compote/fruit paste in the canteen and drink juices 100% Made in Guinea-Bissau (and 100% pressed fruits too but that’s another fight). More classically, the canned business should not be neglected to prolong the pleasures and above all not to see several hundred tonnes of fruit rotting per year in the country. When we know the conditions for manufacturing the tomato paste that we use every day, there is enough to take care of it ourselves!
For the bold: For the more daring, introduce other species (such as vanilla or other spices - cinnamon, cardamom, etc.)
I only spoke about food but obviously, the transformation of underground elements is necessary as an important source of income:
Let's stop the hypocrisy on oil. The industrialized countries have flourished with it for 150 years in abuse, if we can exploit our resources for 15 or 20 years in the cleanest way possible in order to replenish our coffers and invest in what is really important (education, health, innovation...) as Botswana did with diamonds, I would do it without hesitation #Guinétopia. It's up to us to redirect the funds towards (really?) renewable energies then.
Something more “reachable” by anyone: bamboo! It is an excellent building material. We must not forget this when it comes to actually banning plastic cutlery or (re)building thousands of homes in the country for a population who cannot afford rents above 65,000 XOF. It's all a question of political vision.
You are spoiled for choice! Team up with several people, buy machines and each take care of a by-product!