Gbarnga —The Director General of the Liberia Agricultural Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA), Christopher D. Sankolo, has called on farmers across the country to make the planting of cocoa and coffee important.
Presently, around 145 farmers in Liberia are cultivating cocoa, a crop that starts bearing fruits at two years and is harvested twice annually.
According to agriculturalists, cocoa is a long-term generational crop and if properly embraced, it can help farmers to fight abject poverty more than seasonal crops such beans, millet, maize and simsim.
Mr. Sankolo stressed the importance of planting cocoa and coffee for Liberian farmers, stating that cocoa and coffee are vital crops in ensuring food security and economic sustainability in the country.
Mr. Sankolo highlighted the numerous benefits of growing cocoa and coffee, such as its suitability to the Liberian climate, its high nutritional value, and its multiple usage in both the food and agro-processing industries.
He also emphasized that cocoa is a drought-resistant crop, making it a crucial option for farmers in times of climate change and uncertainty.
He encouraged farmers to take Cocoa planting seriously and to make it a priority in their agricultural activities. He also urged them to utilize modern farming techniques and technologies to increase productivity and ensure quality yield of the crop.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sankolo announced that LACRA is working closely with the government and other international partners to provide training and resources to farmers to improve their knowledge and skills in Cocoa production.
He also assured farmers that the institution is committed to supporting them through policies and programs that will promote the growth of the Cocoa and coffee industries in Liberia.
Coffee is a half a trillion dollars trade in the world. It is also the second largest tradable commodity in the world next to petroleum. Before the Liberian Civil Crisis, Liberia was among the top Coffee producers in Africa.
But that has dropped significantly due to the abandonment of farms by succeeding generations. This led to the deactivation of Liberia’s membership with the Inter – African Coffee Organization.
“Thankfully, through our engagement with the IACO, a high-power delegation led by the Secretary General of IACO recently visited Liberia and held talks with major state actors including the Ministries of Agriculture and Commerce, the Legislative Committees on Agriculture and His Excellency the President all geared toward the re-activation of Liberia’s membership the IACO. All is now set for Liberia to reclaim her roles in that august continental body,” Mr. Sankolo said.
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