The critical role of agriculture in eradicating poverty, ensuring food security, and driving economic growth in Liberia has been underscored by the Students Unification Party (SUP), which has raised concerns over the negligible budgetary allocation to the agriculture sector in President Joseph Boakai’s “Rescue Budget.”
In a scathing critique, SUP has highlighted the contradictions between the promises made by the Unity Party government under President Boakai’s leadership and the actual budgetary provisions for the agriculture sector. The party has emphasized the need for concrete action to address the chronic underfunding of agriculture, which it views as essential for Liberia’s development.
The SUP, a campus-based political movement has drawn attention to the promises outlined in the “ARREST” agenda, which prioritizes Agriculture, Road infrastructure, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism. Despite acknowledging agriculture as a cornerstone of Liberia’s economy, SUP has expressed disappointment at the minimal attention given to the sector in the proposed budget.
“The ARREST Agenda recognizes agriculture as pivotal for poverty reduction and food security, yet the budgetary allocation to the agriculture sector falls short of expectations,” remarked Augustine F. Taylor, Jr., Chairman of SUP’s Bureau of Information, Propaganda, Research, and Guidance.
SUP has highlighted several promises made by the Unity Party government regarding agricultural development, including the promotion of mechanization, establishment of machinery hubs, support for increased food production, and strengthening of the rice processing industry. However, the party asserts that the government has failed to provide a comprehensive plan for achieving these objectives.
The Students Unification Party criticized the government’s delay in submitting the budget, citing violations of the Public Financial Management Act and procedural irregularities in the budget approval process. Despite assurances of fiscal realignment, SUP contends that the agriculture sector continues to receive inadequate funding, constituting less than 1% of the total budget.
The party also drew attention to international commitments, such as the Maputo and Malabo declarations, which call for African governments to allocate at least 10% of their budgets to agriculture. SUP argues that President Boakai’s budgetary allocations fall short of these targets, undermining regional and international commitments to agricultural development.
Highlighting discrepancies in budgetary allocations among agricultural entities, SUP has raised concerns over employee compensation consuming a significant portion of allocated funds, leaving little for operational and developmental activities within the sector.
The campus-based political party called for urgent action to increase budgetary allocations to the agriculture sector, emphasizing its critical role in addressing food insecurity, creating employment opportunities, and driving economic development. The party has urged the government to prioritize domestic resources and utilize Liberia’s abundant natural resources for sustainable development.
As Liberia is expected to commemorate its 176 years of independence in July, SUP contends that dependence on external aid is unsustainable, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to harness the country’s potential for self-sufficiency and prosperity.
The students group has called upon the “Rescue Mission” led by President Boakai to prioritize agricultural development and allocate adequate resources to address the pressing challenges facing Liberia’s agricultural sector. The party’s plea reflects the urgency of the situation and the imperative for decisive action to unlock Liberia’s agricultural potential for the benefit of its citizens.
Credit: Willie N. Togbah / Contributing Writer
