Answer: 39.308 pounds
Explanation:
We assume that the given population is normally distributed.
Given : Significance level :

Sample size : n= 12, which is small sample (n<30), so we use t-test.
Critical value (by using the t-value table)=

Sample mean :
Standard deviation :

The lower bound of confidence interval is given by :-

i.e.


Hence, the lower bound for the 98% confidence interval for the mean yearly sugar consumption= 39.308 pounds