Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalists Network (LAEJN) Promote informed journalism and public engagement on agricultural and environmental nalists Network (LAEJN)
Nukanah Kollie/ kollienukanah94@gmail.com
PALALA, BONG COUNTY – As part of its agro-diversification drive, SANKOFA Farm has in recent years made significant investments in animal husbandry—expanding its focus beyond vegetable cultivation and crop production. Leading this bold shift is Nyamah G. Dunbar, a visionary agriculturalist who sees the revitalization of Liberia’s livestock sector as essential to strengthening national food security and achieving true economic independence.
“We are sleeping on animal husbandry,” Dunbar tells Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalists Network, standing beside a pen of imported sheep and local cattle. “Liberians eat meat every day, but we rarely think about where it comes from—or how much of it we could be producing ourselves.”
Liberia imports over 75% of its meat—much of it frozen poultry, low-quality beef, or expired pork from overseas, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This not only raises health concerns but also drains the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
Despite Liberia’s natural advantage—vast grasslands and suitable climate—less than 4% of farmers engage in animal husbandry, often at subsistence levels. A 2020 LISGIS agricultural survey confirmed the sector remains critically underdeveloped, hindered by poor veterinary services, market inaccessibility, and lack of policy support.
At SANKOFA Farms, Dunbar is working to change that. With no government funding for livestock (support was limited to vegetable farming), she has leaned on private investment and training from regional institutions like the Songhai Center in Benin.
“We’re doing this on our own—no government subsidy, no livestock grants,” she says. “Yet we’ve brought in cattle and sheep from across West Africa and built a farm that now doubles as a training center.”
Challenges abound. Security threats, including livestock theft, have slowed expansion. Feed prices fluctuate wildly—especially for pigs—sometimes tripling overnight. And with limited access to veterinary care, her team must rely on a blend of organic methods and traditional knowledge to keep animals healthy.
Still, Dunbar remains undeterred. “A clean environment, quality feed, and care go a long way. We’ve managed without heavy reliance on antibiotics.”
SANKOFA is not just about farming; it’s a prototype for national transformation. “We’ve supplied animals to a few local buyers, but our real goal is scale,” Dunbar emphasizes. “In Nigeria, a cattle farmer starts with 100–150 head. That’s the mindset we need here.”
West Africa’s livestock economy contributes up to 15% of regional agricultural GDP and supports hundreds of millions. Liberia’s contribution is minimal—despite having over 4.3 million hectares of pasture-ready land, of which less than 10% is used.
Dunbar believes the government must stop treating agriculture as an aid-dependent sector and instead act as a partner and facilitator. “We need bold, long-term investment: rural markets, veterinary infrastructure, and most of all, access to capital. Bring back the Agricultural Bank. Enable farmers, not just NGOs.”
She also urges the swift implementation of the long-stalled National Livestock Policy, which aims to boost domestic meat production by 30% by 2030 but has seen little movement since 2019.
“Liberia can feed itself,” she asserts. “But it requires a shift—from viewing agriculture as a survival strategy to treating it as an engine of prosperity.”
SANKOFA Farms may be small by regional standards, but it embodies a larger vision: one where every Liberian county has a thriving livestock sector, where meat is traceable and fresh, and where rural communities are economically empowered.
“We’re proving what’s possible,” Dunbar says. “Now we need support—not just for SANKOFA, but for every farmer ready to raise healthy animals and rebuild this sector.”
Nyamah G. Dunbar’s efforts are more than entrepreneurial—they are emblematic of a larger national imperative. Liberia stands at a crossroads: continue depending on foreign meat, or invest in homegrown solutions. With the right support, farms like SANKOFA could lay the foundation for a self-sufficient, healthier, and more resilient Liberia.
