Liberia has marked this year’s International Coffee Day with renewed commitment to restoring the coffee industry and empowering smallholder farmers nationwide.
The Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) has joined the global community in commemorating International Coffee Day with a colourful ceremony held at the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) in Kakata on Wednesday, 1 October 2025.
The event brought together farmers, students, agricultural experts, local buyers, and members of the public, all united by a shared vision to rebuild Liberia’s coffee sector.
This year’s national theme, “Empowering Liberian Farmers, Unlocking Sustainable Development Through Coffee,” aligned with the global message,
“Embracing Collaboration for Collective Action in Achieving Sustainable Development in the Global Coffee Sector.”
Delivering the keynote address, LACRA’s Acting Director-General, Hon. Dan Torkamawon Saryee Sr., said the agency has taken bold steps to transform the nation’s coffee value chain.
“For too long, Liberian farmers have faced challenges of low productivity, poor market linkages, and weak quality control, but LACRA is changing this narrative,” he said.
Saryee highlighted coffee as a premium commodity with vast potential to boost national income.
He revealed that LACRA has begun enforcing stricter quality standards across all stages of production, from harvesting to export, to ensure Liberian coffee earns top value internationally.
He further announced a nationwide farm registration and mapping initiative designed to enhance traceability, a requirement for accessing global markets in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
“The global market demands transparency, and we are ready to deliver it. This mapping initiative is directly linked to farmer empowerment,” Saryee added.
While acknowledging Liberia’s fertile soil and favourable climate for coffee cultivation, Saryee stressed that collaboration remains key to the sector’s success.
“We cannot achieve this milestone without international partnerships. We are targeting investments in nurseries, processing equipment, and warehousing facilities to reduce post-harvest losses and ensure farmers capture greater value from their produce,” he said.
He also urged farmers and local buyers to adopt best practices, maintain quality standards, and ensure fair pricing, noting that true sustainability means equitable benefit sharing among all stakeholders.
Established by the International Coffee Organisation (ICO) in 2015, International Coffee Day promotes coffee as a vital global commodity and highlights the challenges faced by farmers worldwide.
The ICO, founded in 1963, advocates for fair trade, transparency, and environmental sustainability in the coffee industry.
As Liberia’s lead regulatory body for agricultural commodities, LACRA is mandated to oversee quality assurance, trade regulation, and farmer support programmes to boost rural livelihoods.
Globally, coffee remains one of the world’s most valuable agricultural exports — consumed in over 2.25 billion cups daily and valued at over US$460 billion annually.
In Liberia, coffee farming is regaining prominence, particularly in Lofa, Nimba, Bong, and Margibi counties.
Many smallholder farmers are returning to coffee production as a reliable source of income.
Experts estimate that a well-managed acre can yield between 800 and 1,500 kilograms annually, offering more substantial returns than several traditional crops.
Source: LAEJN
Image Credit: The News Dawn Liberia
