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Monrovia, Liberia – Liberia’s Minister of Agriculture, Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, has lauded the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for its instrumental role in revitalizing the nation’s rice sector through the “Improving Rice Production for Smallholders Project,” widely known as the JICA LIBRICE Project. As the initiative nears its conclusion, its legacy of innovation, capacity-building, and practical support for farmers is already reshaping rice cultivation practices across Liberia.
Speaking at the 4th Joint Coordinating Committee Meeting convened at the Ministry of Agriculture in Monrovia, Dr. Nuetah reflected on the tangible outcomes of the multi-year intervention. He cited the introduction of a comprehensive National Rice Production Manual, the development of adaptive cultivation techniques tailored to Liberia’s agro-ecological zones, and the remarkable 37% reduction in labor costs—a direct result of labor-saving methods and mechanized practices piloted under the project.
“These aren’t just numbers,” Dr. Nuetah remarked. “They represent real change in the daily lives of smallholder farmers—less drudgery in the fields, higher yields, and more time for other livelihood activities. Our next step is to scale these successes. We must transition from pilot phases to broader adoption across the rice-producing counties, ensuring that the tools, knowledge, and techniques reach thousands more farmers.”
Dr. Nuetah emphasized that Liberia’s long-standing dependence on rice imports could be curtailed significantly if initiatives like LIBRICE were expanded and institutionalized within national development frameworks.
Joining the meeting virtually from Tokyo, Dr. Hitoshi Fujiie, Deputy Director General of JICA’s Agriculture and Rural Development Department, expressed admiration for the Liberian government’s commitment to the project. He highlighted the importance of local ownership in driving sustainable development.
“This success would not have been possible without the Ministry’s strong leadership and unwavering sense of ownership,” Dr. Fujiie said. “From collaborative planning to hands-on fieldwork, the trust forged between our teams has been the foundation of LIBRICE. We are confident that this spirit of cooperation will continue as Liberia builds on this momentum to achieve agricultural self-sufficiency.”
Since its launch, the LIBRICE project has worked closely with agricultural extension officers, local cooperatives, and farming households to introduce climate-smart agronomic practices, improve seed quality, and promote data-driven farming methods. It has also supported training sessions and demonstration plots in key rice-growing regions of Lofa, Bong, and Nimba counties.
As the LIBRICE project approaches its formal conclusion, the Ministry of Agriculture is focusing on institutionalizing best practices, reinforcing extension services, and mobilizing additional investment to deepen impact and scale interventions nationwide.
“Our vision is clear,” Dr. Nuetah concluded. “We want a Liberia where our farmers are empowered, our youth see agriculture as a viable future, and our rice shelves are stocked with locally grown, high-quality grain. LIBRICE has laid a strong foundation—we now have the responsibility to build on it.”
