Liberia: FAO, Partners Launch Project To Enhance Liberia’s Agriculture, Food Systems

Monrovia – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with the European Union, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and the government of Liberia has launched a program that will give support to responsible governance with regard to responsible investment in the agriculture and food system.

The program, which is also been implemented in Sierra Leone and the People Democratic Republic, will enable FAO to enhance the capacities of policymakers and other key decision-makers to strengthen an enabling environment for responsible investment including small-scale and large-scale investors in Liberia.

The project will also include the delivery of learning programs for policy makers, capacity development activities for civil society and support to multi-stakeholder dialogue in the agriculture sector.

Speaking at the launch of the project in Monrovia, FAO representative in Liberia, Mariatou Njie said responsible investment in the agriculture sector is significant in the actualization of reducing poverty and hunger in Liberia.

Madam Njie indicated that in order for Liberia to achieve the first two goals of the SDG by 2030, substantial investment in the agriculture sector is needed. According to her, FAO will continue to work with developing partners in eradicating hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity.

“Responsible investment in agriculture and food system is essential for enhancing food security, nutrition and supporting the progressive realization of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security and is key to reducing poverty and hunger,” she said.

“FAO will work to eradicate hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity. Therefore, efforts to enhance investment in agriculture are crucial for the eradication of hunger and poverty.”

Speaking further, the FAO boss stressed the need for responsible investment in the agriculture sector. 

According to her, FAO, the government of Liberia as well as international partners all have a role to play in the realization of the project.

“Responsible investment in agriculture is an all-stakeholders affair that requires all hands on deck. The government, intergovernmental and financial institutions; small farmers and civil society organizations all need to play an active role to achieve the project,” Madam Njie stressed.

Speaking on behalf of Finance Minister Samuel Tweah, Deputy Finance Minister for Budget &Development Planning, Tanneh G. Brunson commended FAO and her development partners for the launched of the project. 

The Deputy Finance Minister urged FAO to direct their energy under the project to smallholders’ farmers who according to her contribute a significant portion of the country’s economy. 

“Giving the vital role of smallholders farming, it is particularly important that their capacity is invested, strengthened and secure. So, responsible investment should adequately take into account the vast majority of our small farmers”, she averred.

Also speaking at the event, a representative of the Germany Embassy Gunter Plambeck said his government is working with countries across the globe to tackle challenges facing food security.

According to him, demographic growth and climate change pose a serious threat to food production. He called on stakeholders to curtailed excessive population and to mitigate climate change in order to increase food production. 

“In spite of the enormous technical progress we have witnessed during the last few decades, problem facing mankind. Two of these challenges are demographic growth and climate change, both of them likely to affect food security,” Plambeck said.

“It is therefore vital to tackle these challenges today by mitigating the effects of climate change on the other hand and by increasing agricultural production wherever possible.” 

In furtherance, he noted that with the launched of the project Liberia will be a frontrunner in the drive to reduce food insecurity around the world.