Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalists Network (LAEJN) Promote informed journalism and public engagement on agricultural and environmental nalists Network (LAEJN)
By LAEJNET
A delegation from the Inter-African Coffee Organization (IACO) met with President Joseph Boakai in Monrovia on Thursday, August 8, 2024. The delegation led by IACO Secretary-General, Solomon Rutega and Dr. Celestine Gataryiha, Director of Research and Development discussed strategies to rejuvenate Liberia’s coffee industry, which has faced challenges over the years due to economic and environmental factors.
During the meeting, President Boakai expressed his administration’s commitment to revitalizing the sector. He stressed the need for IACO to begin seeing the possibility of providing capacity building for young people around Africa to take over the agricultural sector.
The Liberian leader also lauded the current management team at the Liberia Agricultural Commodity Regulatory Authority for early strives taken to resuscitate the institution and pledged to fully support LACRA in achieving its goals.
The Director General of LACRA, Christopher D. Sankolo accompanied by the Board Chairperson, Josephine George Francis led the delegation of the Inter African Coffee Organization to meet with President Joseph Boakai.
The discussions also touched on the need for greater collaboration between the government, local farmers, and international partners. The IACO delegation proposed initiatives aimed at enhancing the skills of local farmers, increasing access to international markets, and improving the overall value chain in the coffee sector.
Liberia has been a member of the Inter-African Coffee Organization (IACO) since 1972 but its membership has been dormant for years due to the civil crisis that derailed a major sector of the country’s economy and still struggling to revive.
Well, it appears Liberia is about to begin processes leading to the reactivation of its membership under the leadership of the new Director General and his team of Deputies backed by the Board of Directors. During a meeting earlier with the IACO delegation, the LACRA boss outlined challenges confronting the coffee sector in Liberia but indicated that his administration is working tirelessly to address these challenges aimed at putting Liberia on par with other African countries when it comes to coffee production.
For his part, Ambassador Solomon Rutega said he is in Liberia to hold a discussion with various stakeholders on the possibility of how Liberia can get back to parity with other African Countries concerning coffee production adding “that in getting back to those days, Liberia should reactivate its membership with the IACO to enable the country have more production and profit from the coffee trade.”
The Inter-African Coffee Organization (IACO) is a pan-African institution that plays a critical role in coordinating and promoting the development of the coffee sector across the African continent. Founded in 1960, IACO was established to address the challenges faced by African coffee-producing countries and to enhance the global competitiveness of African coffee. The organization’s headquarters is located in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
IACO’s membership consists of 25 African coffee-producing countries, including major coffee exporters like Ethiopia, Uganda, and Côte d’Ivoire, as well as smaller producers. The organization is governed by an Annual General Assembly, which is the highest decision-making body, and a Secretariat headed by the Secretary-General.
Coffee is a vital export commodity for many African countries, providing livelihoods for millions of smallholder farmers. IACO’s work is crucial in helping these countries overcome challenges such as fluctuating global prices, climate change, and competition from other coffee-producing regions. Through its efforts, IACO aims to ensure that African coffee remains a significant player on the world stage, contributing to economic growth and poverty alleviation in the continent’s coffee-producing regions.
