Africa-Press – Liberia. https://frontpageafricaonline.com/agric-matters/liberia-lacra-lra-announce-agreement-to-facilitate-domestic-cocoa-trade/ The Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) and the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) have announced a significant joint operational agreement aimed at fostering a supportive environment for local cocoa farmers and traders, directly supporting the government’s Rescue Agenda through increased agricultural productivity.
This crucial understanding addresses the challenge of LRA’s policy of seizure and taxation of cocoa beans transported within Liberia on the suspicion of being smuggled from neighboring countries.
The LRA has agreed that, effective immediately, no custom officer is authorized to detain, seize, or levy taxes on cocoa beans being transported strictly within the territorial confines of Liberia.
Both entities acknowledge the technical difficulty and near-impossibility for field officers to reliably distinguish between cocoa harvested in Liberia and cocoa that may have originated in a neighboring country, such as Côte d’Ivoire, based solely on appearance.
The LRA has reinforced its standing directive advising all custom officers to ensure appropriate levies and customs procedures are strictly applied at designated entry borders to safeguard national revenue.
The agreement is designed to remove a major operational hurdle for local cocoa farmers and licensed buyers, ensuring their legitimate produce can reach market or processing facilities without undue harassment or delays. This measure is expected to significantly boost agri-productivity and investment in the sector.
The Director General of LACRA extended his sincere gratitude to the leadership of the LRA, stating, “This is a momentous step that reflects genuine leadership and a commitment to understanding the realities on the ground for our farmers. This decision removes a major impediment to the smooth flow of our commodities and has the clear proclivity to enhance agri-productivity, directly supporting the economic revitalization outlined in the Rescue Agenda.”
Both LACRA and the LRA reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate on effective strategies that promote Liberian agriculture while protecting national borders and securing legitimate revenue for the state,
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