Liberia Makes Strides In Rice Production, Seeks To Address Market Challenges

News in Brief: Liberia's rice production increased significantly in 2023, but challenges remain in connecting farmers with buyers and ensuring fair prices. Liberia's agricultural sector saw a significant boost in 2023, with rice production increasing by 53%, according to Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah. This achievement is attributed to the Emergency Rice Production Offensive (ERPO) initiative, a World Bank-funded project that supported farmers with improved seeds, fertilisers, and equipment. Nuetah's statement during a Stakeholders Engagement Forum, which held in Monrovia. The forum aimed to address challenges faced in the rice and cassava value chains, particularly regarding pricing and market linkages. However, despite the reported success, the minister stressed the need for data verification to ensure accurate figures. Historically, Liberia relies heavily on rice imports, with an estimated 350,000 metric tons imported in 2022. The government's goal is to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production, with a target of 50,000 metric tons annually within the next six years. Meantime, a key challenge identified during the forum was ensuring farmers have buyers for their rice harvest. A World Bank's Agriculture Specialist, Kelvin Doesieh, spoke on the importance of connecting farmers, processors, and institutional buyers to establish a functional market system. Reportedly, the Ministry of Agriculture is taking steps to address these concerns. They are encouraging farmers to transition to lowland rice production. This has the potential for higher yields using technology according to Dr. Moses Zolue, Crop Development Specialist at the Rural Economic Transformation Agriculture Project (RETRAP). Additionally, the ministry is revising the national agriculture investment plan to guide future development efforts.