Gbarnga, Bong County – More than 150 young people from Bong, Nimba and Lofa Counties gathered in Gbarnga on Tuesday, June 9 as the Government of Liberia(GoL) intensified efforts to prepare a new generation of agripreneurs and business leaders for a landmark coffee revival initiative expected to create more than 300,000 jobs across the country.
The Youth and Farmers Engagement Forum brought together youth leaders, farmers, local authorities, development partners and representatives of JR Farms Group, which recently signed a 20-year partnership agreement with the Government of Liberia to help revitalize the country’s coffee industry through investments exceeding US$60 million.
The engagement highlighted opportunities in coffee production, agribusiness, processing, and value addition.
It also sought to identify youth engaged in agribusiness who can be trained and partnered with for local seed multiplication while exploring future partnerships to deepen agricultural investment in Liberia.
Speaking on behalf of Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, Deputy Minister for Regional Development, Research and Extension, Moses R. Gbanyan, said Liberia’s agricultural transformation agenda aims to reduce the country’s dependence on imports while unlocking opportunities for farmers and rural communities.
“For far too long, Liberia has depended heavily on imports while vast agricultural opportunities remain underutilized. We must transform agriculture into a modern, competitive, and profitable sector capable of creating wealth and improving livelihoods across our country,” the Minister’s message stated.
The planned coffee initiative is expected to benefit more than 200,000 farmers by developing over 250,000 hectares of coffee plantations over the next two decades, creating jobs, strengthening rural economies and expanding Liberia’s export potential.
Addressing the youth, Deputy Minister Gbanyan encouraged them to see agriculture as a modern business sector with diverse career opportunities.
“Agriculture is no longer limited to traditional farming. It now encompasses agribusiness, technology, mechanization, processing, logistics, marketing, financial services, and export opportunities,” the Minister’s message emphasized.
The forum also allowed participants to engage directly with stakeholders on how communities can benefit from future investments in the coffee value chain.
The engagement forms part of ongoing consultations between the Government of Liberia and JR Farms Group as preparations continue for one of the largest agricultural investments in Liberia’s recent history.
