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By: Josiah Pailay& Nathan Kollie
More than 150 young people from Bong, Nimba, and Lofa counties gathered in Gbarnga on Tuesday as the Government of Liberia intensified efforts to prepare a new generation of agripreneurs and business leaders for a landmark coffee revival initiative expected to create more than 300,000 jobs across the country.
The Youth and Farmers Engagement Forum brought together youth leaders, farmers, local authorities, development partners, and representatives of JR Farms Group, which recently signed a 20-year partnership agreement with the Government of Liberia to help revitalize the country’s coffee industry through investments exceeding US$60 million.
The engagement highlighted opportunities in coffee production, agribusiness, processing, and value addition. It also sought to identify youth engaged in agribusiness who can be trained and partnered with for local seed multiplication while exploring future partnerships to deepen agricultural investment in Liberia.
Speaking on behalf of Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, Deputy Minister Hon. Moses R. Gbanyan encouraged participants to view agriculture and agribusiness as viable pathways to economic empowerment, employment creation, and sustainable development.
He emphasized that young people remain key to transforming Liberia’s agricultural sector and urged participants to seize opportunities across the agricultural value chain, including production, processing, marketing, and agribusiness entrepreneurship.
“Agriculture is no longer limited to traditional farming. It now encompasses agribusiness, technology, mechanization, processing, logistics, marketing, financial services, and export opportunities,” the Minister’s message emphasized.
Mr. Gbanyan also called on youth to align with the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), noting that the administration continues to prioritize agriculture as a major driver of economic growth and poverty reduction.
The forum concluded with renewed commitments to strengthen youth participation and expand investment opportunities within Liberia’s agricultural sector. The engagement forms part of ongoing consultations between the Government of Liberia and JR Farms Group as preparations continue for one of the largest agricultural investments in Liberia’s recent history
