By Thomas West
Phone: 0888972432 / 0775084260 | Email: thomaswest232@gmail.com
Monrovia, Liberia : In a landmark move aimed at strengthening Liberia’s agriculture sector, the Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) has set standardized prices for cocoa and coffee for the next three months—ushering in renewed hope for smallholder farmers ahead of the 2025 purchase season.

The new pricing structure was announced Wednesday during a stakeholder validation forum in Monrovia, attended by farmer associations, exporters, government officials, and development partners. It is being widely hailed as a critical step toward ensuring fair returns for thousands of rural producers who have long suffered from volatile market prices and middlemen exploitation.
According to LACRA’s Acting Managing Director, Dan T. Saryee, the decision is the result of months of consultation across the agriculture value chain, from farmers and cooperatives to exporters and international buyers.
“For many smallholder cocoa and coffee farmers, price instability has been a persistent threat to their livelihoods,” Saryee said. “This new standard will bring predictability, protect against exploitation, and improve Liberia’s global competitiveness.” Under the newly agreed pricing framework, cocoa and coffee will be purchased based on international quality standards as follows:
- Grade 1: $4.73 per kilogram
- Grade 2: $3.54 per kilogram
- Grade 3: $2.36 per kilogram
The pricing agreement was signed jointly by executives of LACRA, the Liberia National Cocoa and Coffee Exporters Association (LIMACEA), and the Farmers Association of Liberia.
The Acting Chairman of the Farmers Association of Liberia, Allen D. Browne, described the decision as a “huge relief” for producers who have long operated under unpredictable and unfavorable conditions.
“For too long, our farmers have been at the mercy of market fluctuations,” Browne said. “This pricing structure offers hope, especially for smallholder farmers who are the backbone of our export economy.”
Also welcoming the decision, Sheikh A. Turay, President of LIMACEA, called the pricing standard a win-win for both farmers and exporters.
“This move sends a clear signal that Liberia is serious about creating a more structured, transparent, and investor-friendly agriculture sector,” Turay stated.
He emphasized that Liberia’s alignment with standard pricing practices in regional neighbors like Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire would improve trade harmonization and attract more international buyers.
The introduction of a standardized price system comes at a crucial time, as thousands of smallholder farmers prepare for the peak harvest and sales season. The predictability in pricing is expected to encourage greater production, improve income security, and reduce the influence of exploitative middlemen.
For smallholder cocoa and coffee farmers—many of whom lack access to market information and bargaining power—the policy offers a pathway toward economic stability and growth. It also enhances their ability to invest in better farming techniques, cooperative membership, and quality improvements.
LACRA officials confirmed that the three-month price window will be periodically reviewed in line with global market dynamics. Additionally, the agency hinted at the potential introduction of minimum price guarantees and farmgate pricing laws to further protect producers in the long term.
“This is just the beginning,” Saryee said. “We are laying the groundwork for a stronger, more inclusive agriculture sector where farmers, especially smallholders, can thrive.”
As Liberia continues to work toward reducing poverty and strengthening its rural economy, policies like this are seen as essential to unlocking the full potential of agriculture and ensuring that farmers finally receive fair value for their hard work.