The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) has taken a bold step forward with the launch of the National Agriculture Development Plan, a comprehensive roadmap aimed at revolutionizing Liberia’s agricultural landscape.
At the forefront of this plan is the prioritization of mechanized farming, particularly focusing on rice, cassava, and other staple crops crucial for ensuring sustainable food availability across the nation.
Under the leadership of Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, the new Minister of Agriculture, the 2024 National Agriculture Development Plan launched today sets out a six-year strategy to elevate the sector to new heights. With a keen focus on mechanization, the plan seeks to integrate programs designed to stimulate economic growth while addressing critical issues such as food and nutrition security, post-harvest loss management, and supply chain efficiency.
Speaking about the importance of mechanized farming, Minister Nuetah emphasized its pivotal role in fostering food security.
He outlined plans to bring together small-scale cassava farmers, encouraging cooperation to facilitate the adoption of mechanized techniques, particularly in counties with favorable agricultural conditions such as Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Bong, Margibi, and Montserrado.
Highlighting specific initiatives, Minister Nuetah unveiled the government’s commitment to establishing industrial agriculture free-zones, starting with Grand Bassa County. These zones will serve as hubs for food processing and production, paving the way for increased value addition within the agricultural sector.
Central to the plan is the expansion of rice production, with ambitious targets set to cultivate 50,000 hectares of lowland rice.
Minister Nuetah emphasized the importance of empowering small-scale farmers, positioning agriculture as a viable source of income while actively engaging young people to take interest in the sector.
Recognizing the crucial role of education, the plan includes provisions to collaborate with agricultural learning institutions to integrate mechanized farming into their curriculum.
This, he noted is a proactive approach which aims to equip the next generation with the necessary skills to drive agricultural innovation and sustainability.
While optimistic about the plan’s potential, Minister Nuetah acknowledged the challenges ahead, particularly the need for increased budgetary support.
He stressed the importance of translating words into action, underscoring the urgency of implementing the National Agriculture Development Plan to realize Liberia’s full agricultural potential.
Minister Nuetah reiterated the imperative of proactive implementation, emphasizing that mere documentation without execution would undermine the sector’s progress.
With commitment and strategic planning, Liberia stands poised to achieve unprecedented levels of food sustainability and security under the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture.
