Africa-Press – Liberia. The Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Country Representative to Liberia, Bintia Stephen Tchicaya, has commended the Ministry of Agriculture’s new leadership for spearheading the agricultural sector’s developmental strategies, which are poised to shape Liberia’s agrarian landscape for the next five years.
Tchicaya emphasized the pivotal role of policy documents, particularly the National Agriculture Development Plan, in fostering private sector participation, enhancing value chain development, and facilitating strategic investments that align with FAO’s mission of promoting sustainable agricultural systems and rural transformation.
“At FAO, we recognize the importance of these policy documents in shaping Liberia’s agricultural landscape for the next five years. The National Agriculture Development Plan focuses on private sector participation, value chain development, and strategic investments align closely with the 2023 agenda and FAO’s mission is to promote sustainable agrifood systems culture and rural transformation,” Tchicaya said.
She made the statement at the ongoing Ministry of Agriculture transforming Liberia Agricultural Landscape “Field Validation” workshop in Gbarnga, Bong County.
The FAO representative underscored the significance of agrifood systems in achieving the 2030 sustainable development agenda, asserting that these systems offer opportunities for enhancing efficiency, inclusivity, resilience, and sustainability in agricultural practices.
Collaborative efforts with other development partners and multilateral institutions have culminated in the formulation of strategic instruments that seek to guide investments in Liberia’s agriculture sector, with a focus on private sector engagement and value chain optimization.
“Together, our collective efforts, along with the leadership and foresight of the government, we now have this strategy instrument that will guide investment in the agriculture sector,” she said.
FAO’s active involvement in shaping Liberia’s National Agriculture Development Plan, a comprehensive six-year strategy from 2024 to 2030, was highlighted by Tchicaya. This strategic blueprint prioritizes key value chains such as rice, cassava, maize, cocoa, coffee, fruits, livestock, and fisheries, among others, while incorporating essential components like mechanization, research, and extension services.
“This strategic blueprint places a strong emphasis on fostering private sector engagement and advancing agricultural growth through a value-chain approach. The NADP strategically targets key value chains including rice, cassava, maize, cocoa, coffee, fruits, rubber, vegetables, livestock, poultry, fisheries, aquaculture, coconut, and cashew nuts,” she noted.
Additionally, FAO’s collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has contributed to the development of a Zero Post-harvest Management Strategy aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and enhancing the sustainability of Liberia’s agrifood systems.
Through targeted interventions and best practices, the Zero Post-harvest Management Strategy aims to address critical loss points in priority commodity food chains, striving towards improved food security, reduced food prices, and stakeholder welfare enhancement.
The ongoing Ministry of Agriculture workshop in Gbarnga, Bong County, focused on validating key documents like the NADP, Zero Post-harvest Loss Strategy, and Food Supply Chain Assessment, under the theme “Charting a Path to Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security.”
The FAO’s commitment to collaborating with the Liberian government and stakeholders underscores a collective effort towards achieving resilient and sustainable agrifood systems in the country.
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