Read in
Agriculture Minister Alexander Nuetah
The Minister of Agriculture says the government has visited various areas across the country where it intends to invest in agricultural production over the next five years.
By Kruah Thompson
Monrovia, July 9, 2024: The Liberian government is seeking to invest approximately US$718 million in the National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) to produce food crops such as rice, cassava, beans, and vegetables.
Under the Liberian Feed Yourself project, Agriculture Minister Mr. J. Alexander Nuetah says the plan will target rice, cassava, beans, and vegetable production.
The NADP aims to guide the country’s agricultural sector for five years. It is scheduled to be launched on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, a suburb of Monrovia.
The event will gather development partners and government officials, including President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, to set the agenda for ensuring self-sufficiency in food production. The NADP focuses on stabilizing commodity prices across Liberia.
At a special press briefing on Monday, July 8, 2024, Minister Nuetah disclosed that the plan was formulated within the first 100 days following President Boakai’s instructions.
Minister Nuetah noted that it was validated by partners, and Liberia aims to achieve food self-sufficiency within six years.
Of the approximately US$718 million, Nuetah explained that funding contributions are expected from the government (25%), private sector (30%), small crop farmers (5%), and government partners (40%).
“It is expected that the government will contribute approximately $248M to the plan, donors will provide $317M, the private sector $72.1M, and farmers will contribute $30M,” Minister Nuetah explained.
He indicated that the US$718M project funds will be allocated to develop the value chain of commodities, address cross-cutting issues, and support development activities such as capacity building for farmers and acquiring logistics.
“While these three commodities will help achieve self-sufficiency in food crops and food security, we also aim to cultivate cash crops to generate income for farmers,” Minister Nuetah continued.
Additionally, he disclosed that the plan will focus on developing the cocoa, coffee, coconut, and rubber value chains and expanding livestock production, among other initiatives, to meet the needs of the Liberian people.
He further outlined specific targets in the plan, including developing 50,000 hectares of lowland for rice production and 20,000 hectares for cassava production by the end of 2029.
“Our aspiration is that by developing 20,000 hectares, we will produce enough rice and cassava to redirect the revenue currently spent on rice imports to other national priorities,” he stated.
Minister Nuetah also revealed that they have visited various areas across the country where they intend to invest in agricultural production over the next five years.
He also highlighted agreements with the Ministry of Agriculture in China and other international companies to assist in implementing new strategies and providing the value chain for the commodity that will be produced in the country to meet the needs of the Liberian people.
He stated that the ministry has signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with international companies that are specialized in their fields.
These partnerships, he said, aim to assist the government in achieving its national agricultural development agenda.