Africa-Press – Liberia. World Bank Liberia describes Liberia’s launch of a National Agriculture Development Plan as excellent.
The World Bank says the National Agriculture Development Plan launched by the Government of Liberia is an excellent basis for taking the crucial next step, which involves prioritization and selectivity.
World Bank Liberia Country Manager Georgia Wallen made the statement here Wednesday, 10 July, during the launch of the National Agriculture Development Plan at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town. She confirmed the Bank’s continued commitment to engaging actively in this crucial sector, which she reveals represents roughly 20% of its program.
“Over half of Liberians living in poverty depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, with women accounting for 80 percent of the agriculture labor force. The sector is also integral to winning the struggle against food insecurity, which impacts four of every five Liberians”, Country Manager Wallen says.
“We will work with the GOL to ensure that World Bank financing for Agriculture fully aligns with the GOL’s sector priorities. This includes our flagship engagements, the Smallholder Agriculture Transformation and Agribusiness Revitalization Project (STAR-P) and Rural Economic Transformation Project (RETRAP). Notably, the RETRAP project embodies the integrated approach reflected in ARREST. It focuses on reaching smallholders and investing in essential roads needed to connect farmers to markets and galvanize the rural economy.”
She emphasizes the importance of well-informed, strategic choices that integrate data and analytical work and reveals that the World Bank is supporting the Government of Liberia on the Food and Nutrition Security Preparedness Plan and is similarly, along with FAO and IFAD investing in Liberia’s first Agriculture Census in four decades.
The Preparedness Plan and Agriculture Census, among others, will help inform the government’s choices – providing essential data to identify opportunities as well as gaps, says Madam Wallen.
She says the success of the agriculture sector here is fundamental to the Liberia Rising 2030 goals and achieving sustainable poverty reduction.
Country Manager Wallen continues that Liberia’s agriculture sector has gained momentum over the last three years, averaging 3.5 percent (2021 to 2023)—“but much more is needed. And much more is possible.”
According to the Bank, scaling up productivity in the sector will mean tackling key challenges, including by boosting access to technology; improving the efficiency of farming practices; increasing private investment; and reducing fragmentation in value chains.
She notes that the new National Agriculture Development Plan makes important contributions to laying the foundation for systemic transformation. Importantly, it will require a “whole-of-government” approach because increased productivity in agriculture depends on better outcomes in related sectors—from transport to private sector development.
“The National Agriculture Development Plan will therefore be an integral part of the National Development Plan that is currently under preparation by the GOL.”
She says the detailed and ambitious plan will be instrumental in laying the foundation for strong delivery on the ARREST agenda – with Agriculture as a leading pillar.
Meanwhile, the World Bank says it welcomes the government’s intention to identify various sources of financing to deliver the plan, including domestic resource mobilization and private capital mobilization. It encourages Government’s engagement with the International Finance Corporation to build on ongoing support for agribusiness and mobilizing private investment in agriculture.
The Liberian government is seeking to invest approximately US$718 million in the National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) to produce food crops such as rice, cassava, beans, and vegetables.
Under the Liberian Feed Yourself project, Agriculture Minister Mr. J. Alexander Nuetah says the plan will target rice, cassava, beans, and vegetable production.
The NADP aims to guide the country’s agricultural sector for the next five years with a focus on stabilizing commodity prices across Liberia.
Speaking at a special press briefing on Monday, July 8, 2024, Minister Nuetah disclosed that the plan was formulated within the first 100 days on President Boakai’s instructions.
Minister Nuetah noted that it was validated by partners, and Liberia aims to achieve food self-sufficiency within six years.
Of the approximately US$718 million, Nuetah explained that funding contributions are expected from the government (25%), private sector (30%), small crop farmers (5%), and government partners (40%).
“It is expected that the government will contribute approximately $248M to the plan, donors will provide $317M, the private sector $72.1M, and farmers will contribute $30M,” Minister Nuetah explained.
He indicated that the US$718M project funds will be allocated to develop the value chain of commodities, address cross-cutting issues, and support development activities such as capacity building for farmers and acquiring logistics.
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