Liberia Calls for Strategic Investment in Seed Sector to Drive Food Security and Agricultural Transformation

Monrovia, Liberia – April 30, 2026 — The Government of Liberia has called for increased investment in the country’s seed sector, positioning it as a critical driver of food security, economic transformation, and national sovereignty.

The call was made during a high-level national engagement on Liberia’s seed sector, which brought together senior government officials, development partners, financial institutions, private-sector actors, and farmer organizations to unlock investment and accelerate agricultural growth.

Delivering the keynote address, Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, emphasized that Liberia has moved beyond planning and is now ready to scale proven solutions.

“We have identified the gaps, built the systems, and are seeing results. What we need now is to scale—and that scaling must start with getting quality seeds into the hands of our farmers.”

Minister Nuetah highlighted the urgency of reform, noting that Liberia spends hundreds of millions of dollars annually on rice imports while domestic production meets only about 39 percent of national demand. He stressed that improving seed systems is fundamental to transforming the agricultural sector.

“We cannot continue to spend 200 million US dollars every year importing rice while our farmers have the land and the potential to produce. The difference between where we are and where we want to be starts with a seed.”

The engagement was organized in collaboration with the African Development Bank and its Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation, as well as national and international partners committed to strengthening Africa’s food systems.

Representing His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., Minister of State without Portfolio, Mamaka Bility, delivered a strong message highlighting the government’s strategic focus on agriculture under President Boakai’s leadership, noting that the sector is now positioned as a key driver of economic growth and stability.

“Agriculture is the engine of our economy, and seeds are the fuel that will drive it forward. The seed sector is not a subsector of agriculture—it is the DNA of our national sovereignty.” She added, “A nation cannot claim independence if it depends on others to feed its people. What we are doing here today is to ensure that Liberia can stand on its own.” 

Minister Bility highlighted that the Government’s commitment is grounded in action—through reforms, investments, and a coordinated national strategy designed to unlock productivity and empower farmers across the country.

“The land is ready, the policies are ready, and the political will is absolute.”

Rice remains central to Liberia’s food system and economic stability, yet limited access to quality seeds continues to constrain production despite favorable agricultural conditions.

Minster Nuetah reaffirmed that strengthening seed systems is the most effective entry point for agricultural transformation. With improved rice varieties that mature in as little as 90 days, farmers can cultivate two to three times per year—significantly increasing yields, incomes, and food availability.

The engagement also highlighted the impact of sustained investments by development partners, including the European Union, the African Development Bank, AGRA, the World Bank, FAO, IFAD, WFP, GIZ, Ireland, JICA, and Chinese cooperation. These efforts have contributed to the establishment of the Seed Development and Certification Agency (SDCA), Liberia’s first fully operational national seed regulatory authority.

The event spotlighted investment opportunities across key value chains identified in the National Agriculture Development Plan, including rice, cassava, maize, soybean, and aquaculture—sectors critical to improving food security, nutrition, and rural livelihoods while reducing dependence on imports.

Participants engaged in investment presentations, sector diagnostics, financing discussions, and public–private partnership dialogues to catalyze financing, strengthen collaboration, and accelerate the development of a resilient, market-driven agricultural sector.

Priority investment areas include establishing a nationally accredited seed-testing laboratory, developing a secure digital certification system, expanding certified seed production and distribution, and implementing nationwide farmer-awareness initiatives such as Seeds4Change.

Minister Nuetah called on development partners, investors, and private-sector actors to deepen their engagement and support Liberia’s transition toward food self-sufficiency.

“If we get seeds right, we get agriculture right,” the Minister concluded. “And if we get agriculture right, we transform lives.”

Liberia’s national seed sector initiative aims to mobilize financial and technical resources, strengthen partnerships, and accelerate the implementation of the National Seed Roadmap and Investment Plan—positioning the seed sector as a cornerstone of sustainable agricultural transformation.