President Joseph Nyuma Boakai on Wednesday July 9, 2024 officially launched the National Agriculture Development Plan.
Among other things, the six years plan promises to reinvigorate Liberia’s agricultural sector including enhancing its self-sufficiency in food production.
Speaking at the launching program, The Liberian leader urged Liberians to embrace the call to revolutionize Liberia’s agricultural sector and to as well live it.
“No one goes to bed on an empty stomach; no child is malnourished; no child goes to school hungry; more jobs are created; poverty diminishes, crime goes down, peace reigns; the Lone Star shines, and we all, with one accord, celebrate the glittering joy and happiness in the bright shining Lone Star”, President Boakai rally his people.
Acknowledging the challenging times of climate change and economic crises undermining human civilization across the globe, The Liberian leader was also quick to state that ensuring food security for his people is paramount.
According to him, the NADP is a game changer, a roadmap to a more secure and sustainable future stating that it is fortified with inventive strategies and propelled by modern technologies and comprehensive investments.
Referencing agriculture to be the backbone of Liberia’s economy, the Chief Executive encourage Liberians to take proactive steps to harness every potential in the sector including bringing progress and development to the people.
Among other things, The NADP is a policy framework intended to harness the vast agricultural potential while shepherding it from a world of want to a world of abundance to reduce it over-reliance on food importation.
Speaking at the launching program President Boakai said Liberia has vast tracts of arable lands suitable for rice cultivation, yet the Country import 70% of the rice the people consume.
He said by doing so over the years, the nation channel its scarce foreign exchange resources into importing food items they can produce here in Liberia instead of channeling those resources into building roads, schools, and health facilities and creating jobs to develop Liberia’s human capital.
“This unfortunate situation must change, and the change begins with the NADP, a groundbreaking initiative designed to support and empower our farmers to increase productivity and efficiency through strategic investments in agricultural infrastructure, technology, and research”, he further informed the gathering.
He stressed that the NADP brings a paradigm shift in food production from traditional subsistence farming to large-scale, sustainable, mechanized agriculture.
As part of the program, farmers will be train in modern agricultural technologies and empower them with resources to undertake large-scale cooperative farms.
Moreover, it will revolutionize agriculture practices to make it a smart, lucrative business that will attract all Liberians, especially the youth, he noted.
The Liberian leader reassured his people and those in the sector that he will deploy the needed political will to motivate everyone to embark on what he describes as a make-or-break agricultural journey.
“We will provide our farmers with the necessary resources, including farmlands, modern technology, and improved seeds, to go into big-time farming and produce food to feed our people, we will also produce more cash crops for export to resuscitate our ailing economy and this is a call to duty to all Liberians, especially key stakeholders in the agricultural sector, farmers, businesses, researchers, and policymakers”, he said .
He at the same time reminded Liberians and Stakeholders that their participation is crucial; “your technological know-how is vital; your investment funds are indispensable; your wholesale commitment is critical for us to embark on this journey together to meet these targets”, he further lamented.
According to President Boakai, the Country and its people have been wandering in agricultural wilderness for far too long and now is the time to reach the promised land.
“Together, we can build a more resilient and self-reliant agricultural sector reemphasing that when agriculture flourishes in Liberia, the entire Liberian nation flourishes.
