By Abdullahi Lukman
Liberia’s Agriculture Minister, Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, has requested US$69 million in the proposed 2027 national budget to strengthen agricultural extension services, address a shortage of field technicians and increase domestic food production as the country targets food self-sufficiency by 2030.
Speaking on Thursday, October 8, during the ongoing Executive Budget Hearings at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning in Monrovia, Nuetah disclosed that Liberia has only 138 agricultural technicians serving 109 agricultural districts, far below the 436 needed nationwide.
He said the shortfall of 298 extension workers has limited the Ministry of Agriculture’s ability to provide farmers with technical assistance, introduce modern farming practices and expand support to rural communities.
Nuetah explained that the proposed allocation would strengthen the ministry’s capacity to improve agricultural productivity, support commercial farming and advance the government’s food security objectives. The request remains subject to the national budget review process and legislative approval.
The minister also highlighted ongoing initiatives to develop key agricultural value chains, including rice, cassava, coffee, cocoa and oil palm, as part of efforts to increase local production, create jobs and reduce dependence on imported food.
On cassava production, he disclosed that a major processing facility is under construction in Weala, Margibi County. The facility is expected to promote local processing, improve market access and create additional income opportunities for farmers when operational.
For the coffee sector, Nuetah cited a partnership with JR Farms Group to establish coffee nurseries and distribute free seedlings to farmers. The initiative is intended to expand cultivation and encourage commercial coffee production.
He added that efforts to increase rice, cocoa and oil palm production remain central to the government’s agricultural development agenda, noting that stronger value chains could improve farmers’ incomes and support rural livelihoods.
Nuetah emphasized that agricultural extension workers are essential to connecting farmers with improved production techniques, technical knowledge and other services needed to increase yields.
“Agriculture is the people’s way of life,” he said, underscoring the sector’s importance to the economy and the livelihoods of rural communities.
The proposed investment aligns with Liberia’s National Agriculture Development Plan, which seeks to strengthen agricultural institutions, improve productivity and expand domestic food supplies.
The ministry maintains that increasing investment in extension services and strengthening the agricultural workforce are necessary to achieving the country’s 2030 food self-sufficiency target.
However, implementation of the proposed programmes will depend on the final budget allocation and the availability of funds for the 2027 fiscal year.
