MONROVIA – On Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at the launch of the National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) 2024-2030, held at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, Liberia, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai delivered a stirring speech outlining the nation’s new agricultural policy initiative. Dubbed the “LIBERIANS FEED YOURSELVES AGENDA,” this six-year plan aims to rejuvenate the agricultural sector and enhance Liberia’s self-sufficiency in food production.
“I come to you on this historic day with warm greetings as I bear the hope that whatever we share here today will exact a meaningful impact upon the course and pace of our nation’s forward march,” President Boakai began. “This Plan promises to reinvigorate our agricultural sector and enhance our self-sufficiency in food production.”
Highlighting the pressing issues of climate change and global economic crises, Boakai underscored the importance of food security. “Ensuring food security for our people is paramount,” he said. The NADP, fortified with innovative strategies and modern technologies, is seen as a game-changer and a roadmap to a more secure and sustainable future.
Boakai emphasized agriculture’s role as the backbone of Liberia’s economy and stressed the necessity of proactive measures to harness its full potential. “When we import rice, chickens, eggs, and cows from other countries, we are subsidizing their agriculture and undermining ours. Now, let us subsidize our agriculture and eat what we produce.”
The NADP aims to reduce Liberia’s over-reliance on food importation by harnessing the country’s vast agricultural potential. Currently, Liberia imports 70% of its rice, despite having extensive arable lands suitable for rice cultivation. By redirecting resources into local food production, Liberia can build infrastructure, create jobs, and develop human capital.
The plan includes strategic investments in agricultural infrastructure, technology, and research, supporting a shift from traditional subsistence farming to large-scale, sustainable, mechanized agriculture. “We will train our farmers in modern agricultural technologies and empower them with resources to undertake large-scale cooperative farms,” Boakai explained.
President Boakai called on all Liberians, especially key stakeholders in the agricultural sector—farmers, agro-businesses, researchers, and policymakers—to participate in this transformative journey. “Your participation is crucial, your technological know-how is vital, your investment funds are indispensable, and your wholesale commitment is critical.”
Concluding his speech, President Boakai expressed his faith in Liberia’s potential to build a resilient and self-reliant agricultural sector. “When agriculture flourishes in Liberia, the entire Liberian nation flourishes,” he stated. “No one goes to bed on an empty stomach; no child is left malnourished; no child goes to school hungry; more jobs are created; poverty diminishes, crime goes down, peace reigns; the Lone Star shines.”
He urged all Liberians to embrace the call to revolutionize agriculture and work together towards a brighter future. “As we mount on that noble tract let us all in unison THINK LIBERIA, LOVE LIBERIA AND BUILD LIBERIA!” Boakai concluded.
