Participnts in Session
By: Marka B. Davis
Monrovia, Montserrado County –The Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) has launched a two-day intensive training workshop in Montserrado County, aimed at strengthening the technical capacity of its inspectors and quality control staff across the cocoa, coffee and palm-oil value chains.
Running from October 14 to 15, the workshop brings together regional quality inspectors, warehouse supervisors, and field technicians from across the country. Participants will undergo training in inspection techniques, grading, sampling, and compliance with international export standards.
Speaking Tuesday October 14, 2025 at the official opening of the workshop in Paynesville, LACRA’s Acting Director General, Dan Saryee, said the initiative is part of broader efforts to revamp the institution and reposition Liberia as a competitive player in global agricultural markets.
“We are working to restore LACRA to its pre-war status — and beyond,” said Saryee. “The public is already witnessing signs of transformation since the new management team took over.”
He stressed that realizing LACRA’s vision — as well as that of President Joseph Boakai — depends heavily on the active involvement and support of quality control staff and inspectors.
“Our vision cannot be achieved without the dedication and professionalism of our quality control and inspectorate team,” Saryee noted. “That’s why capacity-building is central to our agenda.”
The Acting Director General also disclosed that LACRA is forging international partnerships to ensure Liberian farmers receive fair value for their produce.
“We are building international connections to improve market access and value for our farmers,” he said. “Moreover, we are working closely with Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire to form a Cocoa, Coffee, and Oil Palm Bloc that can jointly negotiate prices on the international market.”
Dan Saryee – LACRA Acting Director General
Providing an overview of the event, Kennedy Jallah, Sr., Technical Consultant to LACRA, emphasized the importance of standardizing practices.
“This two-day workshop is designed to strengthen the technical capacity of our inspectors and quality control officers,” Jallah explained. “We want to standardize inspection and grading procedures, improve data reporting, and promote professionalism and integrity in quality assurance.”
Jallah said participants are expected to walk away with practical skills and a deeper understanding of international requirements.
“By the end of this exercise, we expect participants to apply standardized methods, detect and report quality deviations, and better understand export standards,” he said.
Jallah underscored that such training sessions are crucial to restoring Liberia’s reputation as a reliable exporter of high-quality cocoa and coffee.
“We are building a system where quality is non-negotiable,” he stated. “If we can maintain strong quality control, Liberian farmers and exporters will gain better access to premium international markets.”
The workshop is part of LACRA’s broader capacity-building strategy aimed at aligning national standards with global best practices in commodity regulation and export quality.
