Africa-Press – Liberia. The event, held in Suakoko District, marks a critical step toward reducing Liberia’s dependence on imported poultry and developing a self-sustaining domestic industry.
Under the warm rising sun, the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) main compound came alive as key players in Liberia’s poultry industry gathered for a five-day pre-validation workshop of the long-awaited National Poultry Strategy.
The event, held in Suakoko District, marks a critical step toward reducing Liberia’s dependence on imported poultry and developing a self-sustaining domestic industry.
The workshop brought together poultry farmers, agricultural experts, policymakers, academics, and local government representatives, all unified by a vision of revitalizing and regulating Liberia’s poultry sector.
A Dormant Strategy Reawakened
Dr. Arthur Bob Karnuah, Director General of CARI and former FAO expert, explained that the National Poultry Strategy was first developed five to six years ago under FAO leadership and during the CDC administration. Despite strong groundwork and collaboration with stakeholders, the document remained inactive. “It is long overdue,” Dr. Karnuah said. “But it’s encouraging that the government is finally taking steps to validate the document and move the poultry sector forward. Liberia continues to rely heavily on imported poultry products, and this must change.”
Dr. Karnuah outlined the key components of the strategy:
• Comprehensive Data Collection: Mapping poultry farmers across scales.
• Manpower and Training: Building a skilled workforce.
• Feed Production: Promoting local maize farming to produce feed.
• Financing and Government Support: Creating funding frameworks.
• Updated Statistics: Aligning the strategy with current realities.
• Processing and Infrastructure: Establishing processing plants and hatcheries for a full poultry value chain.
“This is more than a document,” he emphasized. “It’s a roadmap for Liberia’s agricultural independence.”
Local Government and Community Backing
Representing the Mayor of Gbarnga, Alex D. Mulbah Sr., administrative assistant, welcomed participants and pledged the city’s full support. “We have many small poultry farmers in Gbarnga. If this strategy is effectively implemented, it will help us organize them into cooperatives and promote local production,” Mulbah stated.
He also stressed the risks associated with imported poultry. “Imported poultry often arrives in poor condition, and our people unknowingly consume products that may be harmful. This policy is essential to promote healthier, locally-grown alternatives,” he added.
Strategic Alignment with National Priorities
Deputy Minister for Development and Planning, Hon. David K. Akoi of the Ministry of Agriculture, linked the strategy directly to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s ARREST Agenda (Agenda for Reform and Transformation), which emphasizes agribusiness, infrastructure, governance, human capital, sanitation, and tourism. (Liberia Endorses $8.4 Billion ARREST Agenda and County Development Plans.
“We must update this strategy to reflect today’s realities,” Hon. Akoi said. “It needs to account for climate resilience, production targets, and current data to ensure we meet the President’s goal of producing 500,000 birds annually.”
The Ministry’s budget has increased significantly, from under $5 million to over $13 million, with $8 million earmarked through the Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP) to support agriculture—including poultry, rice, cassava, and maize.
“This isn’t just about increasing poultry numbers,” Minister Akoi added. “It’s about linking farmers to markets, creating income, and improving food security.”
He stressed that the government prioritizes empowering local farmers over restricting imports. “We don’t need to place bans. We need to empower Liberian farmers. If they are producing quality maize for feed, then naturally, importers will turn to local options.”
Sector Support and Institutional Collaboration
Mr. Joseph N. Kodah Sr., President of the Liberia Poultry Federation, lauded the government’s commitment to validating the policy. “Today marks a major milestone,” he said. “For years, we’ve pushed for this policy to be validated. Thanks to the leadership of President Joseph N. Boakai and Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, we are now making real progress.”
He criticized the current market, which he claims is flooded with expired or unsafe imported poultry. “Without regulations, business people import toxic, expired poultry products that harm our people. We’ve seen a rise in health issues, kidney failure, hypertension, rashes, that we link to poor-quality imports,” Kodah warned.
The strategy also introduces a classification system for poultry farmers, small, medium, and large-scale, which will help better target support and investments. “You can’t treat all farmers the same,” he said. “This policy will help identify who needs what kind of support, from financing to market access.”
BRAC Liberia, one of the country’s leading institutional partners in poultry development, also weighed in. Representing the organization, King J. Kerkula, Technical Sector Officer, recalled past setbacks due to limited domestic market absorption.
“In 2013, we produced over 125,000-day-old chicks and 672 metric tons of poultry meat annually. But we were forced to close our enterprise because the market couldn’t absorb our products,” Kerkula noted. “With this strategy, we see hope for renewed growth.”
Government Investment and Regional Context
In 2023, the Liberian government inaugurated a US$26 million agro-industrial poultry complex, featuring an integrated egg farm, feed mill, egg packing station, and workshop center—part of broader efforts to strengthen the poultry sector and reduce import reliance. (Liberia invests US$26 million in construction of agro-industrial poultry complex | Food Business Africa – Africa’s No.1 Food & Beverage Manufacturing Industry Magazine and Website, )
Despite recent growth, Liberia’s poultry meat production stood at 15,000 metric tons in 2022—a 2.15% increase from the previous year—but still lags behind regional peers like Ghana (70.9 kt), Sierra Leone (21.6 kt), and Guinea (14.9 kt). (Poultry Meat Production rose 2.15% to 15.0 kt in Liberia in 2022 | Helgi Library)
The Road Ahead
With the pre-validation exercise wrapping up, the next steps include incorporating stakeholder feedback, submitting the final draft to President Boakai for endorsement, and then forwarding it to the National Legislature for enactment into law.
Once passed, the National Poultry Strategy will provide a clear roadmap to elevate Liberia’s poultry sector, enhancing food security, creating jobs, increasing domestic production, and protecting consumers from unsafe imports.
As Mr. Kodah aptly put it, “This policy is the beginning of a new chapter. It will bring order, opportunity, and health to the Liberian poultry market.”
For More News And Analysis About Liberia Follow Africa-Press
