By Bill W. Cooper
The government, through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, has signed a US$5.3 million grant agreement with the International Fund for Agricultural Development to improve food security and boost the livelihoods of Liberians.
Funded by the European Union (EU), the grant agreement for the Scaling-Up Agroecology Approaches in Liberia project will support Liberia’s agricultural sector by promoting sustainable practices and increasing the resilience of smallholder farmers.
The project is also part of the Smallholder Agriculture Transformation and Agribusiness Revitalization Project (STAR-P), a joint initiative co-financed by IFAD and the World Bank (WB).
These resources, according to the agreement will complement the US$28 million already allocated by IFAD for the project, which is set to run over four years starting in 2025.
Also, the primary objective of the project is to improve food security, strengthen the livelihoods of rural communities, and build resilience to climate change by promoting agroecological practices.
It will further focus on increasing horticultural production through soil fertility enhancement, sustainable water management practices, irrigation technologies, and innovative co-creation models that encourage farmer collaboration.
Signing on behalf of the Government, Finance Minister, Augustine K. Ngafuan thanked IFAD for the grant, a gesture he would greatly help actualizing the government’s Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation and Tourism (ARREST) agenda.
Minister Ngafuan also underscored the importance of the partnership, stating that the grant agreement reflects the strong commitment of Liberia’s international partners to support the government’s development goals.
He said, “This signing is not just a piece of paper, but a tangible demonstration of how our international partners are investing in the future of Liberia. It reinforces our shared vision for a more inclusive and sustainable agricultural sector.”
“This project is directly aligned with the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development and our National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP), which aims to revolutionize Liberia’s agricultural landscape,” the Minister noted.
He at the same time extended his gratitude to the EU for its contribution, expressing his hope that the grant would have a positive impact on Liberian farmers, especially in terms of helping them adapt to the growing challenges posed by climate change.
“We are confident that this project will help Liberian farmers cope with the vulnerabilities of climate change, thereby improving food security and creating more opportunities for income generation,” Ngafuan maintained.
He further assured that the government is focused on increasing food production, and thereby pledged the government’s unwavering support to farmers and their livelihoods, especially through strengthening the agricultural value chain.
IFAD Country Representative to Liberia, Barankeba expressed her pleasure in signing these financing instruments following the endorsement of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development and the launch of the National Agriculture Development Plan, as both projects align perfectly with it.
She pledged IFAD’s commitment to supporting Liberia through ongoing and future investment in the country and announced that IFAD will announce the country allocation under IFAD 13 early next year.
Madam Barenkeba added, “This will present an opportunity to increase the current investment or identify a new one, thereby taking our cooperation to new levels”
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister, Alexander Nuetah expressed optimism about the partnership, highlighting its potential to transform the agricultural sector and reduce poverty.
The initiative, Minister Nuetah added aligns with the government’s commitment to fostering economic growth and ensuring food sovereignty for its citizens, noting that the project is set to commence soon.
