Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalists Network (LAEJN) Promote informed journalism and public engagement on agricultural and environmental nalists Network (LAEJN)
By Jefferson Massah, jeff.massah24@gmail.com
Monrovia – Liberia’s efforts to modernize its agriculture sector are gaining momentum, as the Ministry of Agriculture moves closer to completing 13 mechanization service centers across the country. The Ministry says the initiative is a major step toward transforming farming from a largely subsistence activity into a productive, commercially viable sector.
Agriculture Minister Dr. Alexander Nuetah disclosed that five mechanization centers have already been completed, while eight additional facilities are under construction. These centers are expected to be finalized before the end of October this year, after which modern farming machinery will be installed and made available to farmers.
“When the centers are completed, we’ll bring in the machines to operate them and ensure they are functional,” Dr. Nuta told LAEJN in an exclusive interview. “By the end of 2025, Liberia will have 13 mechanization service centers spread across seven counties.”
The centers are being developed as part of a national drive to increase agricultural productivity, improve food security, and create opportunities for young people in agribusiness. The facilities will provide access to a range of machinery and services that many smallholder farmers cannot afford on their own, such as tractors, harvesters, and processing equipment.
To ensure sustainability, according the Dr. Nuetah, the government will not directly manage the centers but will operate them under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement. The Ministry of Agriculture has already issued a Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) to attract private sector actors who will manage the facilities, he said.
“The centers will remain government-owned but managed by private operators. The private sector will pay a percentage of the value of the equipment to run the centers, with a portion of the revenue reinvested into maintenance and operations. This way, the centers will be sustainable while still serving the needs of farmers,” Dr. Nuetah explained.
The minister stressed that this model is designed to avoid the pitfalls of past government-run initiatives that collapsed due to mismanagement and lack of upkeep. Under the new arrangement, private operators will have an incentive to ensure efficiency while keeping services affordable for farmers.
Liberia’s agriculture sector, which employs more than 70 percent of the population, has long struggled with low productivity, outdated farming methods, and limited access to modern tools. Mechanization is seen as a game-changer in addressing these challenges.
Dr. Nuetah noted that mechanization is central to his vision for a modern agricultural economy that can not only feed Liberians but also position the country as a regional food supplier.
“If I have just one more day at the Ministry of Agriculture, I want to ensure that mechanization is expanded,” he said. “This is the legacy I want to leave – moving Liberia beyond subsistence farming.”
The mechanization program is expected to deliver multiple benefits, including reducing labor costs for farmers, expanding cultivated land areas, increasing yields, and creating jobs for young people who will be trained to operate and maintain the equipment.
As Liberia prepares to operationalize the 13 service centers by 2025, stakeholders are watching closely to see if the initiative can deliver on its promise of reshaping the agricultural landscape.
