The Sustainable Rice Value Chain Enhancement for Food Security in Liberia project has been officially launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
This initiative seeks to modernise the rice value chain, decrease post-harvest losses, and enhance food security within Liberia.
Dr. Ibrahim Ahmed, FAO Representative to Liberia, spoke at the launch and described the project as a crucial step towards achieving the nation’s food sovereignty.
“Rice in Liberia is more than a meal, a symbol of survival and community,” Dr. Ahmed noted.
“However, despite high consumption, around 133 kilograms per person annually, one of the highest in Africa, our domestic production covers less than half of national demand.”
Liberia produces approximately 300,000 metric tons of rice annually, leaving a supply gap of 350,000 tons that must be filled through costly imports valued at nearly $200 million annually.
Over 70% of Liberian rice farmers still rely on outdated farming methods, leading to low productivity and significant post-harvest losses. These losses are particularly severe and affect farmers and the entire agricultural value chain, including consumers and businesses.
Dr. Ahmed underscored that post-harvest losses are not simply a farming issue, but a national crisis.
The newly launched project is supported through FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP). It aligns with Liberia’s “Liberians Feed Yourself Agenda 2024–2030” and the National Agricultural Development Plan and Post-Harvest Strategy adopted in 2024.
The project focuses on three key outcomes: improved storage management systems along the rice value chain, enhanced rice processing efficiency in key production areas, and strengthened business management for rice-related enterprises, focusing on youth and women.
Dr. Ahmed outlined how these outcomes would be achieved through evidence-based interventions such as value chain assessments, farmer training, modern storage and processing technologies, and business support to improve market access and reduce food losses.
He highlighted how the project aligns with global and regional commitments, including UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 and the African Union’s CAADP Commitment B3, which aim to reduce food losses by 50% by 2030 and 2035, respectively.
In his remarks, Edward Perry, Assistant Minister for Technical Services at the MOA, reaffirmed the government’s full support for the initiative and acknowledged FAO’s critical role as a partner.
Perry emphasised the project’s alignment with Liberia’s five identified priority value chains, with rice being one of the most critical.
“This project operationalises our post-harvest strategy and provides us with a concrete path to implementation.”
Roger Glantz-Pawtray, also present at the launch, announced that the project officially commenced on January 25, 2025, and is slated to conclude in December 2026.
He emphasised that the project’s implementation falls under the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) framework and urged all stakeholders to embrace it with a focus on innovation, partnership, and collective responsibility.
The event wrapped up with a strong appeal for cross-sector collaboration.
Dr. Ahmed called upon the Government of Liberia, development partners, and the private sector to unite their efforts to foster innovation and achieve national self-sufficiency in rice production.
Source: Liberia Observer
Image Credit: FAO Liberia FB
