Japanese Food Assistance for Agriculture Development in Liberia Hands over Program Today

Monrovia – The official handover ceremony – from the Government and people of Japan to the Government and people of Liberia – of the Japanese Food Assistance for agricultural development in Liberia takes place Monday, 5 November 2018, in Monrovia.

Since 2013, the Government of Japan has made generous donations for the support of stallholder farmers and the enhancement of smallholder agriculture development in Liberia.

The donations aimed to support resilient agriculture practices that focused on community asset development on unproductive swamplands for staple food production. The overarching objective of the effort is to specifically link smallholder rice producers and their surplus produce to profitable markets through the World Food Programme’s market development initiatives.

Japanese Ambassador to Liberia H.E. Tsutomi Himeno, based at the Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Ghana will represent the Government and people of Japan. Agriculture Minister Dr. Morgana Flomo will host and lead a representation of key line ministries on behalf of the Government of Liberia, while WFP Country Director Bienvenu Djossa will represent the World Food Programme.

This handover occasion symbolizes the tremendous gains Japan, Liberia, and the World Food Programme have made on improving the lives of smallholder producing farmers. Between 2013-17, this effort significantly boosted and ensured links between increased rice production and commercialization under the Japanese bilateral project.

These smallholder production projects have not only made provisions in training beneficiaries and local agriculture technicians to reinforce their skills, it has also added strong emphasis on women farmers participation. The current project supports 65% of households headed by women in beneficiary communities.