Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalists Network (LAEJN) Promote informed journalism and public engagement on agricultural and environmental nalists Network (LAEJN)
LAEJN Editorial Team
CARI, Bong County – The European Union-funded Seeds4Liberia Project has handed over foundational seeds, improved planting materials, fish fingerlings and agricultural implements to thriving farmer organizations, reaffirming that quality seeds are the lifeblood of productive agriculture and sustainable food systems.
The handover ceremony, held on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), brought together senior representatives from Liberia’s agricultural sector, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Cooperative Development Agency, Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA), European Union, AfricaRice, and other development partners. The event underscored the importance of quality seeds and planting materials as the foundation for increasing agricultural productivity, enhancing national food security, creating sustainable rural livelihoods, and reducing Liberia’s reliance on imported food.
Providing an overview, the project’s National Coordinator / AfricaRice Country Representative to Liberia, Moustapha Gaye, emphasized that the handover represents far more than the distribution of agricultural inputs, describing it as a strategic investment in strengthening Liberia’s seed systems, improving farmers’ productivity, and advancing the country’s agricultural transformation.
“Today’s event represents much more than the distribution of agricultural inputs. It reflects the strong partnership between the Government of Liberia, the European Union and the consortium of AfricaRice, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and WorldFish, working together to strengthen Liberia’s agricultural sector and improve the livelihoods of farmers across the country,” Gaye said.
He noted that quality seeds are the foundation of every successful harvest and the lifeblood of a productive agricultural sector. According to Gaye, improved seeds and planting materials enable farmers to achieve higher yields, produce better-quality crops, withstand the impacts of climate change, and improve their incomes. He stressed that no meaningful agricultural transformation can be achieved without reliable and sustained access to certified, high-quality planting materials, noting that strong seed systems are essential for boosting food security, reducing poverty, creating employment opportunities, and decreasing Liberia’s dependence on imported food.
The Africa Rice Country Representative to Liberia utilized the occasion to laud the European Union for financing the Seeds4Liberia Project, describing the investment as a major contribution toward strengthening Liberia’s seed systems, expanding farmers’ access to certified planting materials, promoting climate-smart farming technologies and improving national food security.
Mr. Gaye also expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Agriculture, the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), the Seed Development and Certification Agency (SDCA), the Liberia Agricultural Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA), the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), and other national and international partners for their unwavering technical, institutional, and policy support throughout the implementation of the Seeds4Liberia Project.
He noted that the collaboration among research institutions, government agencies, development partners, and the private sector has been instrumental in strengthening Liberia’s seed and planting material systems, promoting innovation, improving quality assurance and certification, and ensuring that farmers have access to improved technologies needed to increase agricultural productivity and build a more resilient food system. He emphasized that sustained partnerships will remain critical to achieving Liberia’s long-term agricultural development and food security goals.
The Africa Rice Country Representative encouraged recipients of the development assistance to seize the opportunity and regard improved seeds, seedlings, fish fingerlings, and agricultural implements not simply as mere inputs, but as strategic investments capable of transforming their farms and livelihoods. He stressed that when properly utilized and managed, these resources have the potential to increase productivity, improve household incomes, create sustainable agribusinesses, strengthen food security, and contribute significantly to Liberia’s agricultural transformation.
“These are tools that will enable farmers, seed enterprises and producer organizations to increase production, improve quality, create businesses and generate income,” he said.
In remarks at the event, the European Union in Liberia Agriculture Programme Officer Antonio Di Clemente said the Seeds4Liberia Project is designed to strengthen resilient and sustainable seed systems across Liberia’s priority agricultural value chains, including rice, cassava, soybean, coffee, and aquaculture. He noted that by improving the production, availability, and quality of certified seeds and planting materials, the project is laying the foundation for increased agricultural productivity, enhanced food security, and long-term growth of the country’s agricultural economy.
According to him, the initiative seeks to strengthen the country’s capacity to produce and regulate high-quality breeder seeds, seedlings and fish broodstock while supporting private seed enterprises and community-based producers.
He further explained that the project is reinforcing Liberia’s national seed certification and quality assurance systems to ensure farmers have reliable access to certified, high-quality planting materials. In addition, the initiative is promoting climate-resilient crop varieties and improved fish strains, equipping farmers and agricultural students with practical knowledge and modern production techniques, and strengthening market linkages between producers, buyers, financial institutions, and other key actors across agricultural value chains.
Antonio Di Clemente emphasized that these interventions are designed to build a more competitive, resilient, and sustainable agricultural sector capable of supporting long-term food security and economic growth
Also speaking at the handover ceremony, Assistant Minister for Planning and Development, Francis Mulbah, described the initiative as a clear demonstration of the Liberian Government’s unwavering commitment to revitalizing the agricultural sector through strong partnerships with development agencies, research institutions, the private sector, and farming communities.
He said improving farmers’ access to quality seeds and certified planting materials is fundamental to achieving sustainable agricultural growth, increasing food production, and improving rural livelihoods. According to Minister Mulbah, the Government recognizes that quality seeds are the foundation of a productive agricultural system and remain one of the most effective investments for boosting crop yields, enhancing resilience to climate change, and reducing post-harvest losses.
The Assistant Minister reaffirmed the Ministry of Agriculture’s commitment to strengthening Liberia’s seed systems by supporting seed research, certification, multiplication, and distribution to ensure that farmers across the country have access to improved and climate-resilient crop varieties. He noted that expanding the availability of certified seeds will not only increase agricultural productivity but also contribute to national food and nutrition security, create employment opportunities for rural youth and women, and reduce Liberia’s dependence on imported food commodities.
He further emphasized that the Ministry will continue working closely with development partners, research institutions, and farmer organizations to promote innovation, improve extension services, and scale up investments that enable farmers to adopt modern agricultural technologies. He described the Seeds4Liberia Project as a timely intervention that aligns with the Government’s broader vision of transforming agriculture into a modern, competitive, and commercially driven sector capable of supporting inclusive economic growth and improving the livelihoods of Liberian farming households.
Recipients of the foundational seeds and farm implements expressed profound appreciation to the Ministry of Agriculture, the European Union, and the implementing partners for investing in Liberia’s farming communities through the provision of improved seeds, seedlings, fish fingerlings, and agricultural implements. They pledged to make responsible and productive use of the resources to increase farm output, improve household incomes, strengthen their cooperatives, and contribute to national food and nutrition security.
“For us, these are not just seeds—they are the beginning of a better future for our families. With quality seeds, we expect better harvests, higher incomes, and enough food to feed our children and supply the market. We are committed to planting, multiplying, and protecting these seeds so that more farmers in our communities can benefit,” Ms. Tewah L. Blama , head of the Mayour River Women Agricultural Cooperative in Foyah, Lofa County.
She noted that the support provided through the Seeds4Liberia Project will enable women farmers to cultivate more productive farms, improve the quality of their produce, and build stronger agricultural businesses. She assured partners that the beneficiaries would use the seeds and equipment responsibly while sharing the knowledge and improved planting materials with other farmers to help strengthen Liberia’s agricultural sector.
Funded by the European Union through its Global Gateway Initiative, the Seeds4Liberia Project is being jointly implemented by AfricaRice, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), WorldFish, Ministry of Agriculture MOA, the Central Agriculture Research Institute (CARI) , the Seed Development and Certification Agency (SDCA), National Fishery and Aquaculture Authority (NaFFA) and Liberia Agricultural Commodity Regulatory Agency (LACRA). The project seeks to strengthen national seed systems, improve access to quality planting materials, increase agricultural productivity and reduce Liberia’s reliance on imported agricultural commodities.
For Liberia, where agriculture remains the backbone of rural livelihoods, stakeholders say the message is clear: productive agriculture begins with quality seeds. By investing in stronger seed systems today, the country is laying the foundation for higher yields, greater food security and a more resilient agricultural economy tomorrow
