SUAKOKO, Bong County – The Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), in collaboration with national stakeholders, has officially validated and launched its 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, aligning it with the Government of Liberia’s Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID).
The event brought together researchers and heads of CARI’s seven thematic programs and stakeholders, who reviewed both documents to identify synergies and ensure coherence with national priorities.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Arthur Bob Karnuah, Director General of CARI, described the initiative as a unique undertaking, emphasizing the importance of linking CARI’s Strategic Plan with the AAID. “New governments come with new policies, and with this, what we do has to be aligned with the government,” he stated.
He further underscored CARI’s readiness to fulfill its mandate in alignment with national development goals.
Additionally, Jobson A. Momo, Director General of the Seed Development Certification Agency (SDCA), emphasized CARI’s pivotal role in advancing the government’s ARREST Agenda. He stressed the need for the institute to focus on issues of agricultural production and productivity to meet the country’s pressing needs.
Meanwhile, Dr. Herique Flomo Tokpa, Chairman of the Board of Advisors, reaffirmed the government’s commitment under President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, noting that the alignment of CARI’s plan with AAID is part of broader efforts to transform Liberia. “At CARI, we have to step up our plate to ensure that this government succeeds. CARI is centrally located for the purpose of ensuring that what it does reaches across Liberia,” he said.
Dr. Tokpa also reflected on CARI’s evolution, recalling its early days as a government farm before being transformed into a research institute through support from the United States under the leadership of Dr. Baker. He urged researchers to remain focused, cautioning that “you cannot achieve your plan in too much noise.”
Drawing from his more than 30 years in academia, Dr. Tokpa concluded by emphasizing the value of scientific innovation. He remarked that the satisfaction of achieving breakthroughs in research is far greater than simply generating new ideas, encouraging CARI’s researchers to pursue excellence in their work.
