The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has partnered with 11 prominent agriculture companies in Liberia to boost the country’s agricultural sector. The partnership, worth US$7.8 million, will support the production of key crops such as rice, oil palm, rubber, and other commodities.
The investment will help to address some of the challenges facing Liberia’s agricultural sector, such as limited infrastructure, outdated farming methods, and land tenure issues. It will also help to improve access to finance for smallholder farmers.
The partnership is part of USAID’s Agribusiness Incubator and Development activity, a five-year US$20 million program aimed at enhancing the commercial agricultural sector in Liberia.
In addition to USAID, other international organizations have also invested in Liberia’s agricultural sector. In December 2022, the World Bank approved financing of $30 million for the Rural Economic Transformation Project (RETRAP-AF), benefiting 36,000 households. In January 2022, the World Bank Liberia Country Office signed two financing agreements totaling $50 million with the Government of Liberia.
These investments are a significant development for Liberia’s agricultural landscape and offer hope for its continued growth and improvement.
Challenges facing Liberia’s agricultural sector:
- Limited infrastructure, including inadequate roads, storage facilities, and irrigation systems.
- Outdated farming methods, lack of access to modern farming techniques, improved seeds, fertilizers, and mechanization tools.
- Unclear land rights, overlapping claims, and disputes.
- Limited access to finance for smallholder farmers.
How the partnership will help:
- Address the challenges facing Liberia’s agricultural sector.
- Improve access to finance for smallholder farmers.
- Enhance the commercial agricultural sector in Liberia.
Conclusion:
The partnership between USAID and the 11 agriculture companies is a significant development for Liberia’s agricultural landscape. It offers hope for the continued growth and improvement of the sector, which is essential for the country’s economic development.