NATIONAL NEWS
Rome, Italy – Liberia’s Agriculture Minister, Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
The pledge followed engagements held during the 49th session of IFAD’s Governing Council in Rome.
The Governing Council—IFAD’s highest decision-making body, comprising 180 member states—met from February 10–11, 2026, with a focus on strengthening agricultural investments and improving support for farmers across developing countries.
By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
According to a dispatch from Rome, Minister Nuetah also participated in bilateral meetings with IFAD leadership and senior management ahead of the main session.
This year’s discussions were held under the theme “From Farm to Market: Investing with Young Entrepreneurs,” emphasizing the strengthening of agricultural value chains, increased youth participation in agriculture, and expanded market opportunities for farmers.
The meeting additionally marked the start of consultations for IFAD’s next financing cycle, IFAD-14, which will guide future agricultural investments.
On the sidelines of the session, Minister Nuetah held talks with IFAD Regional Director for Central and West Africa, Bernard Mwinyel Hien, to review progress on ongoing IFAD-supported projects in Liberia and explore opportunities to expand nationwide support for farmers.
Liberia noted that initiatives such as the Tree Crops Extension Programme (TCEP I and II) and the Building Climate Resilience Project (BCRP) continue to improve production, develop rural infrastructure, and increase farmers’ access to markets.
Establishment of National Cocoa Seed Garden
Among the major achievements highlighted was the establishment of the National Cocoa Seed Garden in Nimba County, which continues to support the growth of Liberia’s cocoa sector.
“With some projects expected to close in early 2027, discussions focused on securing additional financing to sustain progress,” a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture said.
Minister Nuetah also outlined plans to expand TCEP II to include Liberia’s indigenous Liberica coffee and to establish a Liberica coffee seed garden aimed at supporting farmers and boosting national production.
According to the ministry, the meeting further discussed the proposed development of a livestock program—particularly for southeastern Liberia—and the expansion of the STAR Project, which currently supports cassava and rice production as well as rural infrastructure development in several counties.
Additional discussions covered market opportunities for Liberian cocoa, including continued exports to Europe and efforts to access new markets.
“Ongoing initiatives to improve farmer training, traceability, and certification will help farmers access higher-value markets and increase their incomes,” the Ministry of Agriculture noted.
Speaking after the engagement, Dr. Nuetah emphasized that Liberia’s partnership with IFAD remains critical to achieving national goals of food self-sufficiency, rural transformation, and inclusive economic growth.
IFAD leadership has also expressed interest in visiting Liberia later this year to observe ongoing projects and engage with farmers benefiting from the partnership, including a planned visit to the National Cocoa Seed Garden in Nimba County.
