Nearly two years after the launch of the government's ambitious agricultural reform agenda, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) has reported significant progress in expanding food production, strengthening agricultural infrastructure, attracting private investment, and laying the policy foundation for long-term sector transformation. However, the Ministry has warned that inadequate funding, limited technical capacity, and weak rural infrastructure continue to threaten the pace of progress.
The Ministry presented its Progress and Challenges Report (2024–2026) to Cabinet on June 11, providing what officials described as a comprehensive assessment of achievements recorded under the National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) 2024–2030, popularly known as the "Liberians Feed Yourselves Agenda." The report also outlined key policy recommendations and sought Cabinet approval for measures aimed at accelerating agricultural modernization.
Agriculture remains one of Liberia's most important economic sectors, employing a majority of the country's population and serving as a critical source of food and rural livelihoods. Despite its vast agricultural potential, the sector has historically faced numerous challenges, including low productivity, limited mechanization, poor infrastructure, inadequate financing, and heavy dependence on imported food. The current administration identified agriculture as a national development priority and launched the Liberians Feed Yourselves Agenda to reverse these trends by increasing domestic production and strengthening agricultural value chains.
Since the launch of the initiative, the Ministry reported that considerable progress had been made in developing the policy framework needed to guide the sector. Among the most notable achievements were the completion of the National Agriculture Development Plan, the Ministry's Five-Year Strategic Plan (2025–2030), Liberia's Food and Nutrition Crisis Preparedness Plan, and the establishment of the Seed Development and Certification Agency (SDCA). According to the report, these policy instruments are expected to improve planning, strengthen seed quality assurance, and build resilience against future food and nutrition crises.
The report noted that the National Agriculture Development Plan places particular emphasis on strategic value chains with the greatest potential to improve food security, generate employment, and increase exports. These include rice, cassava, cocoa, coffee, rubber, cashew, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture, as well as high-value fruit crops such as avocado, citrus, papaya, mango, and banana.
To translate policy into measurable results, the Ministry established ambitious production targets over the next five years. These include developing 20,000 hectares of mechanized maize farms, establishing 25,000 hectares of new cocoa plantations, expanding coffee cultivation by 15,000 hectares, developing 10,000 hectares of cashew plantations, increasing vegetable production by 2,000 hectares, and improving rubber cultivation on 20,000 hectares. Achieving these targets, according to the Ministry, will require an estimated investment of US$717.8 million, financed through contributions from the Government of Liberia, development partners, private investors, and farmers' organizations.
Beyond policy development, the report highlighted tangible improvements in agricultural production. Lowland rice production expanded in Gbedin and Fuamah as irrigation systems were rehabilitated to support year-round farming. Mechanized cluster cassava production also gained momentum, allowing farmers to increase productivity and improve access to commercial markets.
Tree crop development emerged as another area of notable progress. During the reporting period, more than 14,400 hectares of hybrid cocoa plantations were established across producing communities. To ensure the long-term availability of improved planting materials, the Ministry also established a 19.5-hectare National Cocoa Seed Garden in Beeplay, Nimba County. In addition, thousands of improved seedlings—including 50,000 hybrid coconut seedlings, 10,000 avocado seedlings, 10,000 citrus seedlings, and 30,000 pawpaw seedlings—were prepared for distribution to farmers across several counties.
Infrastructure development also featured prominently in the Ministry's report. Approximately 200 kilometers of farm-to-market roads were constructed in Bong, Lofa, and Nimba Counties, improving farmers' access to markets and reducing post-harvest transportation costs. Five modern agricultural markets equipped with solar power, water systems, warehouses, and sanitation facilities were completed along the Ganta–Zwedru corridor. The Ministry also established 13 agricultural mechanization hubs across six counties to improve farmers' access to modern equipment and rehabilitated irrigation infrastructure capable of supporting 825 hectares of irrigated rice production.
The report further pointed to growing investor confidence in Liberia's agricultural sector. Mainland Group began construction of a US$10 million cassava starch processing factory and announced plans for a US$10 million rice production and processing facility in Fuamah, Lower Bong County. The company also proposed a US$36 million investment in rubber production and processing. Meanwhile, JR Farms announced plans to invest US$60 million in Liberia's coffee industry, reinforcing expectations that private-sector participation will play an increasingly important role in expanding agricultural value chains and creating employment.
Recognizing that sustainable agricultural growth requires skilled human resources, the Ministry also strengthened partnerships with educational institutions. During the reporting period, collaboration agreements were signed with eight universities and colleges to support agricultural research, innovation, and youth training. The Ministry also worked with the Ministry of Youth and Sports to rehabilitate the Tumutu and Bentol Youth Agricultural Training Centers, while expanding international cooperation through partnerships with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). Liberia also joined the FAO's One Country One Priority Product Programme, focusing on Liberica coffee, and the Hand-in-Hand Initiative, aimed at attracting greater agricultural investment.
While acknowledging these achievements, the Ministry cautioned that several longstanding constraints continued to slow the pace of agricultural transformation. Chief among them were shortages of qualified technical personnel, inadequate budgetary allocations, deteriorating county infrastructure, and limited operational funding for regional offices. According to the report, these challenges have affected programme implementation and reduced the Ministry's ability to deliver extension services to farming communities across the country.
Budgetary constraints featured prominently in the presentation. The Ministry reported that approved allocations remained significantly below requested amounts over the reporting period, limiting investments in infrastructure, staffing, and programme implementation. Officials argued that without increased financing, many of the objectives outlined in the National Agriculture Development Plan could be delayed.
To address the technical capacity gap, the Ministry requested funding to recruit 348 additional technical personnel, including Clan Technicians, Regional Specialists, and District Agriculture Officers, at an estimated annual cost of US$2.36 million. It also recommended increased financial support for county and regional offices and the rehabilitation of aging ministry facilities throughout the country.
Among the major policy proposals submitted to Cabinet were the establishment of the Agriculture Enterprise Development Bank (AEDB) as a public-private financial institution to improve access to affordable financing for farmers and agribusinesses, as well as the procurement of 100 farm tractors to accelerate mechanized farming nationwide.
The Ministry concluded that although substantial progress had been made in strengthening Liberia's agricultural sector between 2024 and 2026, achieving the full objectives of the Liberians Feed Yourselves Agenda would depend on sustained government commitment, stronger financial investment, increased private-sector participation, and continued support from development partners. With agriculture remaining central to Liberia's economy and food security, the Ministry argued that continued investment in the sector would not only improve rural livelihoods but also contribute significantly to national economic growth and long-term development.