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Rice, a fundamental staple in Liberia serving its 5.4 million people (World Bank, 2012), faces a critical gap between demand and local production. With an annual demand of 650,000 tons and domestic output limited to 240,000 tons of milled rice, the deficit surpasses 400,000 tons annually, compelling a shift toward sustainable solutions.
In response, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, in partnership with Liberia’s Ministry of Agriculture, unveiled the Sustainable Rice Value Chain Enhancement for Food Security Project on May 26, 2025. Funded through FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP), this initiative targets bolstering national food security, reducing import reliance, generating employment, and fortifying the agricultural sector.
Funded through FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP), the project aims to enhance national food security through improved rice production, reduced dependency on imports, job creation, and a stronger agricultural sector. The initiative is backed by a total budget of US$350,000 and will run from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2026.
In partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, the project will address one of Liberia’s most pressing agricultural challenges—post-harvest losses. It is closely aligned with the newly adopted Zero National Post-Harvest Strategy (2024–2029) and the National Agricultural Development Plan (2024–2030).
At the launch ceremony, held at the FAO One UN House office in Monrovia, stakeholders from across the rice value chain, including farmer group representatives, gathered to witness the initiative’s introduction.
Speaking on behalf of Agriculture Minister Alexander Nuetah, Assistant Minister for Planning and Development Francis Mulbah expressed the Ministry’s excitement over the project’s potential impact. “This project will be a trailblazer for rice production in Liberia,” he said, “bridging critical gaps in technology, training, and market access.”
Mulbah emphasized that the Ministry is actively working with partners to ensure the project reaches key rice-producing hubs and equips farmers with tools and knowledge to increase yields and profitability.
FAO Officer-in-Charge Ibrahim Ahmed noted that the project adopts a holistic value chain approach to transform Liberia’s rice sector. “It will modernize handling, processing, and storage systems along major rice supply chains,” he explained. “The main outcome is to reduce post-harvest losses across the country.”
Ahmed highlighted that the project will improve storage management, enhance rice processing efficiency, and strengthen business management for rice-related enterprises. It also includes activities such as value chain assessments, business planning support, and specialized training for farmers, especially targeting women and youth.
“Imagine a Liberia where farmers produce more food and earn fair prices as a result of better post-harvest technologies,” Ahmed added. “Where families no longer worry about the cost of rice, and where the youth thrive in a vibrant agricultural sector. That is the vision we are working toward.”
Consumption has grown by 63% between 2008 and 2022, with demand outstripping domestic production by more than 370,000 metric tons in 2022. Annual per capita rice consumption in Liberia is estimated at 133 kg—one of the highest in Africa
With optimism running high among farmers and stakeholders alike, the project promises to be a turning point in Liberia’s long journey toward rice self-sufficiency and agricultural transformation
