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GBARNGA, Bong County — The Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) has taken another major step toward revitalizing Liberia’s coffee industry with the launch of a 25-acre coffee seed garden and demonstration site in Bong County.
The initiative is part of LACRA’s broader efforts to establish a stronger foundation for the development of Liberia’s coffee sector by improving access to quality planting materials, strengthening farmers’ technical capacity, and promoting modern and sustainable coffee production.
Speaking during the launch, LACRA Director General Christopher D. Sankolo said the new site will serve as both a seed production facility and practical training center, providing farmers with an opportunity to learn improved coffee production techniques and receive technical support.
According to Sankolo, the demonstration site will allow farmers and agricultural technicians to gain practical knowledge in areas including nursery management, seed selection, planting, field establishment, farm maintenance, pest and disease management, and other modern coffee production practices.
The LACRA Director General disclosed that the Authority, working with its partners, has already produced approximately 700,000 Coffee Liberica seedlings, with an ambitious target of producing 5 million seedlings by 2029 for distribution to farmers across Liberia.
The expansion of Coffee Liberica production is expected to contribute to the rehabilitation of Liberia’s coffee farms while creating new opportunities for smallholder farmers to increase agricultural productivity and household incomes.
Sankolo emphasized the strategic importance of Coffee Liberica to Liberia’s agricultural future, noting that the variety is indigenous to Liberia and possesses significant potential to position the country more prominently in the international coffee market.
“Coffee Liberica is part of Liberia’s agricultural heritage, but it can also become an important commercial commodity for the future,” the LACRA Director General said, stressing the need to combine improved planting materials with modern production practices and stronger market linkages.
The establishment of the 25-acre seed garden is therefore expected to provide a reliable foundation for expanding Liberia’s coffee production. Beyond producing planting materials, the site will demonstrate how farmers can transition from traditional production methods to more productive and commercially oriented farming systems.
The initiative also comes at a time when Liberia is seeking to diversify its agricultural economy and strengthen the value chains of commodities with potential for domestic and international markets. Increased coffee production could generate employment, create opportunities for agro-processing and contribute to increased agricultural exports.
For smallholder farmers, access to high-quality seedlings remains one of the critical requirements for establishing productive coffee farms. LACRA’s seed garden is expected to help address this challenge while ensuring that farmers receive planting materials suited to Liberia’s growing conditions.
The launch ceremony culminated in the planting of the first coffee seedling at the new demonstration site in Bong County, symbolizing the beginning of a new phase in Liberia’s efforts to rebuild and modernize its coffee industry.
With the planned production of millions of Coffee Liberica seedlings over the coming years, LACRA and its partners are positioning the coffee sector for renewed growth—linking Liberia’s rich agricultural heritage with opportunities for increased farmer incomes, rural development and participation in the global coffee market.
