MONROVIA – The Chief Executive Officer of SAPPIMAH Cassava Refining Company, Beyan Flomo Pewee, has welcomed a proposed US$100 million investment in Liberia’s cassava sector but is urging the government to give greater attention to Liberian-owned agricultural businesses struggling to secure financing for expansion.
By Francis G. Boayue
Pewee in a Facebook post on Wednesday, October 7 said while foreign investment remains important to the growth of Liberia’s agricultural sector, it should not come at the expense of local entrepreneurs who are already operating in the sector and seeking capital to scale their businesses.
“The proposed US$100 million investment in Liberia’s cassava sector is welcome,” Pewee said. “But I have one serious question for the Ministry of Agriculture: What are we doing for the Liberian manufacturers already struggling to raise US$1–5 million to scale?”
His comments come amid growing discussions around investment in Liberia’s agricultural sector, with the government placing agriculture among its key development priorities.
According to Pewee, existing financing mechanisms for local agricultural manufacturers remain inadequate to support businesses seeking to transition from small-scale operations into commercially viable industries.
He argued that grants ranging between US$50,000 and US$200,000 are insufficient for agricultural manufacturers seeking to establish or significantly expand processing facilities.
“We cannot keep giving agricultural manufacturers US$50,000–$200,000 grants and expect them to build serious industrial businesses,” he said.
Pewee pointed specifically to cassava processing, noting that even relatively simple gari or fufu production operations could require between US$1 million and US$2 million when equipment, electricity, working capital, raw materials, packaging and market access are taken into consideration.
He stressed that his position should not be interpreted as opposition to foreign investment.
“I am not against foreign investment. Bring the US$100 million,” Pewee said. “But foreign investment cannot become a substitute for building Liberian-owned businesses.”
The cassava entrepreneur is calling on the Ministry of Agriculture to identify a group of promising Liberian-owned agricultural enterprises and provide them with targeted support to expand their operations.
“Minister Nuetey, pick 5–10 serious Liberian agricultural businesses. Help them access capital, markets, technology and export opportunities. Help them scale,” he urged.
Pewee said Liberia should measure the success of its agricultural policies not only by the volume of foreign capital attracted to the country, but also by the number of Liberian-owned companies that become commercially sustainable and generate significant revenues.
“Agriculture is this government’s number-one priority,” he said. “Then let us measure success not only by how much foreign capital we attract, but by how many Liberian companies we help reach US$1 million in annual revenue.”
He described the development of locally owned agricultural enterprises as essential to achieving what he called genuine economic empowerment and agricultural transformation.
“That is true empowerment. That is agricultural transformation,” Pewee said.
He further cautioned against overlooking local entrepreneurs while pursuing large-scale external investments, arguing that Liberian businesses already operating in the agricultural sector should be treated as important components of the country’s investment strategy.
“We cannot keep searching for the diamond outside while ignoring the one being built here,” he said.
Pewee concluded his remarks by reaffirming his commitment to cassava production and processing, saying: “I’m going back to my cassava farm.”
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