Africa-Press – Liberia. Women are increasingly closing the agriculture gap in Liberia, determined not to be left behind as the country strengthens its seed sector. This commitment was evident on Monday at the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) Ministerial Complex, where a two-day capacity-building workshop on Rules and Standards in Quality Seed Production and Marketing brought together experts and participants from five seed companies across Liberia.
The training, organized under the guidance of the Seed Development and Certification Agency (SDCA), focused on improving compliance with national seed laws, certification procedures, quality control, and ethical marketing practices. At the end of the workshop, participants were formally awarded certificates in seed production by the Ministry of Agriculture—marking a historic step toward professionalizing Liberia’s seed industry.
Delivering welcoming remarks, Mr. Jobson A. Momo, Director General of the SDCA, emphasized the critical role seed companies play in national food security and agricultural transformation.
“This training comes at a time when the demand for quality seed continues to grow,” Mr. Momo said. “Seed companies are central actors in the agricultural value chain. Your responsibility—from production and processing to labeling, marketing, and compliance—directly affects farmers’ productivity and confidence.”
He encouraged participants to embrace professionalism, comply fully with seed regulations, and “change the narrative” of seed production in Liberia by doing the right thing. Mr. Momo urged donors and partners to support the Seed Agency with both technical and institutional capacities in providing basic services to the Liberia agricultural sector. These supports will enhance farmers to have access to quality seeds/seedlings, stressing that certified seeds/seedlings are safe, reliable, and vital for national food self-sufficiency.
One of the standout voices at the workshop was Madam Tewa Lusu Blama Duna, a trained seed producer from Mayo River Agricultural Corporation in Foya District, Lofa County, who called on more women to take bold steps in agriculture.
“This has been my dream for a very long time to become a certified seed grower,” Madam Duna said. “If farmers don’t have good seeds, they cannot get good yields. And without good yields, farming becomes discourage.”
She explained that the training deepened her understanding of seed cycles, isolation by time and isolation by distances – varietal purity knowledge she described as “life-changing” for seed growers.
“I learned that seeds should not be recycled endlessly. After three cycles of production (for rice seed), the seed must be renewed, or yields will drop. I also learned a new words during the training “isolation by time and isolation by distance”, a system to help growers prevent seed mixture during production cycle. These lessons will help us and the farmers we serve,” she added.
Madam Duna noted that access to viable, certified seed is key to keeping farmers on the land and supporting government efforts to increase domestic food production and productivity.
Mr. Mohamed Kamara, CEO and Founder of Agriculture Infrastructure Investment Company (AIIC) and President of the National Rice Federation of Liberia, described the training as a “giant step” for the seed industry.
“This is the first of its kind in Liberia,” Mr. Kamara said. “For decades, we have been yearning for a functional seed certification system. Without it, we cannot compete regionally or globally.” Special thanks and appreciation to the Minister of Agriculture and the government to have deemed it necessary for the operationalization of the SDCA that has been dormant since 2019.
With over a decade of experience in seed production and collaboration with institutions such as CARI, AfricaRice, and IITA, Mr. Kamara said the training broadened participants’ understanding of compliance, documentation, field management, and seed handling.
“Certification is not just a paper it is a process. You must be registered, follow isolation and compliance rules, document your activities, and meet quality standards. This training has strengthened our capacity to do that,” he emphasized.
He encouraged all certified seed companies to put the lessons into practice and close any gaps that could undermine competitiveness.
The training formed part of the broader Capacity Building of those first batch of the Seed Companies on Rules and Standards in Quality Seed Production and Marketing, aimed at improving compliance, strengthening internal quality control systems, and promoting ethical seed marketing.
The project targets 25 management and technical staff from Nine seed companies and supports Liberia’s wider agricultural agenda of boosting food security, farmer confidence, and private-sector-led growth.
The Seed Development and Certification Agency (SDCA) established under the Liberia Seed Development and Certification Agency Act of 2019—is Liberia’s principal authority for seed regulation, certification, and seed sector development. Operating as a semi-autonomous agency under the Ministry of Agriculture and the oversight of the National Seed Board, SDCA plays a central role in enforcing quality standards, registering seed companies and varieties, regulating imports and exports, and supporting local seed industry development. It is also a key partner in the EU-funded Seeds4Liberia initiative, which promotes resilient seed systems for major crops.
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