Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalists Network (LAEJN) Promote informed journalism and public engagement on agricultural and environmental nalists Network (LAEJN)
By: Nukanah Kollie, LAEJN Bong Coordinator/ IFAJ Fellow
GANTA, NIMBA COUNTY —As farmers, researchers, policymakers, and agribusiness actors converged in Ganta City from December 12-13, for the 2025 National Agriculture Fair, one institution that stood out prominently was the Seed Development and Certification Agency (SDCA), Liberia’s national authority on seed quality and regulation.
At the center of this engagement was Director General Jobson A. Momo, who spoke with clarity and conviction about the agency’s mission to transform Liberia’s agricultural productivity through certified, climate-resilient planting materials.
“This fair is comprehensive and well coordinated,” Momo said. “When farmers come together to share value, it means unity, cooperation, and teamwork. That alone shows peace and progress.”
A New Chapter in Liberia’s Agricultural Policy
The Seed Development and Certification Agency was established under the Liberia Seed Act of 2019, marking a major policy shift in how the country manages its seed system. The law created the SDCA as the lead government institution responsible for coordinating, regulating, administering, and executing all seed development and certification activities nationwide.
Although legally founded in 2019, the agency took several years to become fully operational. By 2025, SDCA had begun active implementation of its mandate, supported by institutional structures, technical partnerships, and a National Seed Board operating under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The agency’s creation responds to decades of challenges in Liberia’s seed sector, where farmers largely depended on uncertified seeds saved from previous harvests or imported planting materials, often resulting in low yields, weak resilience to climate stress, and poor market competitiveness.
Beyond Seed Sales: SDCA’s Core Mission
Speaking at the fair, Momo emphasized that SDCA’s role goes far beyond seed distribution. “We are a government agency responsible to coordinate, regulate, and administer the seed system of Liberia to ensure that farmers get certified and quality seed to plant,” he explained.
According to him, the agency works as a bridge between science and the farmer, supporting the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), the Ministry of Agriculture, and farming communities to ensure that improved planting materials translate into real productivity gains.
Liberia’s agricultural sector employs over 70 percent of the population, yet contributes disproportionately low yields compared to regional averages. Rice yields, for example, often average 1–1.5 metric tons per hectare, far below the 4–6 metric tons achievable with certified improved varieties under proper management. SDCA aims to close this gap by ensuring that only tested, certified, and quality-assured seeds enter the production system.
Climate change featured prominently in Momo’s remarks. With increasingly erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells, pests, and disease pressures, he stressed that seed quality is now a climate adaptation strategy, not just a technical issue.
“Climate change is a threat. It is erratic. It changes every time,” he said. “That is precisely why we exist, to address both the farmers’ current issues and their future problems.”
Momo explained that SDCA works closely with scientists at CARI to ensure that improved varieties combine high yield, stress tolerance, disease resistance, and local preferences, such as aroma and taste. Once varieties are developed, SDCA certifies them and supports their introduction to farmers through training and awareness.
“We are between the scientists and the farmers,” he noted. “We ensure that the prevailing climate situation is addressed with planting materials that can withstand the stress we are facing right now.”
Importantly, he clarified that traditional varieties are not being discarded. “We are not discouraging farmers from their old varieties,” Momo said. “Those old varieties have unique genetic characteristics that scientists use to develop new, climate-resilient crops.”
International Partnerships Strengthening Local Impact
To strengthen Liberia’s seed system, SDCA collaborates with leading international research institutions. Among them is AfricaRice, a continental leader in rice research, which supports the development of improved varieties by combining traits from Asian, America, and Africa rice with Liberia’s local genetic materials.
SDCA also works with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), which supports research on cassava, grains, and tuber crops. IITA-supported cassava varieties, for instance, are helping address malnutrition, disease resistance, and yield improvement. “We are collaborating and coordinating with these international institutions to ensure that we are all on the same page,” Momo said.
One notable success is the improvement of Suakoko-8 rice, a locally adapted aromatic variety whose maturity period has been reduced and stress tolerance enhanced, making it internationally competitive.
Quality Certification and Market Access
For decades after Liberia’s civil war, the country lacked a functional national seed certification system. Farmers produced grain, not certified seed, and much of what was planted could not be traded or officially recognized.
“If you produce material that is not nationally or internationally certified, nobody can buy it. You cannot trade it,” Momo stated.
With SDCA now operational, certified seeds carry a national quality seal, allowing them to be legally traded within Liberia and, eventually, across the region. Improved rice varieties showcased at the fair mature within 75–95 days, compared to traditional varieties that take five to six months, enabling farmers to harvest two to three times a year.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Despite its growing impact, SDCA faces significant challenges. The agency currently operates with only seven technical staff, drawn from different institutions, and remains constrained by limited logistics, funding, and breeding capacity.
“We are limited in manpower, logistics, and capacity,” Momo admitted. “But despite these constraints, we are making headway.”
As Liberia advances from recovery to development, the Seed Development and Certification Agency stands as a cornerstone of agricultural transformation. Through seed regulation, certification, climate-resilient innovation, and strong partnerships, SDCA is laying the foundation for a more productive, competitive, and food-secure Liberia.
Jobson A. Momo’s engagement with the Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalists Network (LAEJN) at the 2025 National Agriculture Fair highlights the agency’s commitment to quality, collaboration, and inclusive agricultural development, ensuring that Liberian farmers are equipped not just to survive climate change, but to thrive beyond it.
