Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalists Network (LAEJN) Promote informed journalism and public engagement on agricultural and environmental nalists Network (LAEJN)
MONROVIA, Liberia — August 20, 2026 — As Liberia moves to revive its coffee industry and position Coffee Liberica as a commercially viable agricultural commodity, about 40 young leaders from universities, youth organizations and communities have completed a three-day training designed to equip them with the knowledge and skills to explore business opportunities across the coffee value chain.
The training, held from August 17-19, 2026 at Arjay Farm in Kingsville, rural Montserrado, brought together young people to explore opportunities in coffee production, processing, marketing, value addition and entrepreneurship.
Funded by the European Union and organized by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in partnership with the Farmers Union Network of Liberia (FUNL), the training aimed to build the knowledge and capacity of young Liberians to view coffee not only as an agricultural commodity but also as a viable business with opportunities spanning from the farm to the international market.
Speaking during the training, Josephine George Francis, President of FUNL, encouraged young people to take a broader view of the coffee industry and consider the business opportunities available across its value chain.
“Young people are the future of Liberia’s coffee value chain. By empowering them with practical skills and connecting them to opportunities, we can tackle unemployment, create sustainable livelihoods and contribute to the growth of our economy,” Francis said.
Francis said coffee presents opportunities beyond farming, including processing, packaging, transportation, marketing and export, and urged young people to position themselves to benefit from the sector’s renewed attention.
A sector with a long history
The renewed push for coffee comes as Liberia seeks to rebuild an industry that once played a much larger role in the country’s agricultural economy.
Historical figures cited by the Food and Agriculture Organization show that Liberia’s coffee production averaged about 4,410 metric tons in the 1960s, increased to roughly 6,180 metric tons in the 1970s, and reached about 8,250 metric tons in the 1980s.
The sector was subsequently devastated by Liberia’s civil wars, which disrupted farming, destroyed infrastructure and forced many farmers to abandon their farms. Weak market systems and limited investment further contributed to the decline of coffee production.
Recent FAOSTAT-based estimates put Liberia’s coffee production at approximately 653 metric tons in 2024, a dramatic decline from the production levels recorded during the sector’s peak decades.
The decline has fueled calls for renewed investment in coffee farming, particularly among young people, as the country seeks to create jobs and diversify its agricultural economy.
That push is gaining momentum.
In June 2026, the Government of Liberia announced a US$60 million coffee investment partnership with JR Farms Group, involving plans to develop large-scale coffee plantations, plant millions of coffee trees and create hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities across the value chain.
The government has also identified the expansion of coffee production as part of its broader agricultural development strategy, creating opportunities for farmers, young entrepreneurs, processors and other actors.
EU: Youth central to agriculture and food security
Antonio Di Clemente, Agriculture Program Officer at the European Union Delegation in Liberia, said young people must be placed at the center of efforts to transform the country’s agricultural sector.
“The future of Liberia’s coffee sector depends on young people becoming active participants across the entire value chain — as farmers, entrepreneurs, processors, innovators and business leaders. The European Union is committed to supporting initiatives that create sustainable opportunities for young people while strengthening Liberia’s agricultural sector and contributing to long-term food security,” Di Clemente said.
He said investing in young people’s skills and entrepreneurship could help make agriculture more attractive while creating employment and strengthening local food and economic systems.
Young participants see new opportunities
For Rhoda B. Shilling a university student and participant, the training offered a new perspective on agriculture and the opportunities surrounding coffee.
“Before this training, I mostly looked at coffee as something that farmers produce. Now I understand that there is a whole business around it, from production and processing to packaging, marketing and trade. As a young person, I am excited to see how I can become part of this growing opportunity,” Shilling said.
She said the knowledge gained during the training could encourage more young people to consider agriculture as a business and not merely as traditional farming.
LACRA outlines its role
Representing the Liberia Agricultural Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA), *Wesseh B. Zoryou, Director for Planning, Research and Policy, outlined the institution’s role in supporting the development and regulation of Liberia’s agricultural commodities.
Zoryou said LACRA works to promote quality standards, regulate agricultural commodities and support systems that can improve production, processing, marketing and access to markets.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening Liberia’s coffee sector through improved production practices, quality control, value addition and stronger connections between farmers and markets.
The renewed focus on coffee comes as Liberia also seeks to promote Coffea liberica, a coffee species native to West Africa, as a strategic commodity with potential for value addition and international markets.
For organizers and participants, the three-day training was therefore more than an agricultural workshop. It was an effort to position young Liberians to take advantage of an emerging business opportunity in a sector with a long history in the country.
As Liberia seeks to rebuild its coffee industry, organizers say increased youth participation will be critical to ensuring that the next generation not only inherits the country’s coffee farms, but also becomes part of the businesses and innovations that can move Liberian coffee from local farms to regional and international markets
