Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalists Network (LAEJN) Promote informed journalism and public engagement on agricultural and environmental nalists Network (LAEJN)
By Christiana Sonpon
Kakata, Margibi County – The Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, joined the global community in celebrating International Coffee Day with a colorful ceremony held on the campus of the Booker Washington Institute (BWI).
The event brought together farmers, students, school administrators, local buyers, agricultural experts, and members of the public, all united by a shared vision of reviving Liberia’s coffee sector.
This year’s national theme, “Empowering Liberian Farmers, Unlocking Sustainable Development Through Coffee,” aligned with the global theme, “Embracing Collaboration for Collective Action in Achieving Sustainable Development in the Global Coffee Sector.”
Delivering the keynote address, LACRA’s Acting Director General, Hon. Dan Torkamawon Saryee, Sr., underscored the urgent need for transformation within the sector.
“For too long, Liberian farmers have faced challenges of low productivity, poor market linkages, and weak quality control — but LACRA is changing this narrative,” he declared.
He emphasized that coffee is a premium commodity and Liberia must position itself to maximize its economic potential. “We are enforcing stricter quality controls at every stage of the value chain — from bean harvesting to export — to ensure that the Liberian coffee brand commands premium prices on the international market.”
Saryee also announced the rollout of a nationwide farm registration and mapping system to provide traceability, a key requirement for accessing international markets in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
“The global market demands transparency — and we are ready to deliver it. This mapping initiative is directly linked to farmer empowerment,” he added.
While acknowledging Liberia’s fertile soil as ideal for coffee cultivation, he stressed that strategic partnerships remain critical. “We cannot achieve this milestone without international collaboration. We are targeting investments in nurseries, processing equipment, and warehousing facilities across the counties to reduce post-harvest losses and ensure farmers capture greater value from their produce.”
He further urged farmers and local buyers to embrace best practices, uphold quality standards, and ensure fair pricing. “Sustainable development means equitable benefit sharing,” he said in a rallying call.
International Coffee Day was officially established in 2015 by the International Coffee Organization (ICO) to promote coffee as a vital global commodity, highlight the struggles of farmers, and advocate for fair trade and sustainability. The ICO, founded in 1963, continues to champion transparency, environmental responsibility, and economic justice in the global coffee supply chain.
As Liberia’s lead regulatory agency for agricultural commodities, LACRA’s mandate includes quality assurance, trade regulation, farmer support, and sector development.
The celebration served as a reminder of coffee’s potential to create jobs, reduce poverty, and strengthen rural economies. Globally, coffee is one of the most valuable agricultural commodities, with over 2.25 billion cups consumed daily and an industry worth more than US$460 billion annually.
In Liberia, coffee farming is steadily regaining prominence, especially in Lofa, Nimba, Bong, and Margibi counties. Many smallholder farmers are returning to coffee as a reliable source of income. Agricultural experts estimate that a well-managed acre of coffee can yield between 800 to 1,500 kilograms annually, offering significantly higher returns than many traditional crops.
Coffee remains one of the top five most-traded agricultural commodities worldwide, alongside cocoa and palm oil, making it a key driver of rural development and export earnings.
