Monrovia — Liberia has struck a landmark 20-year agreement to revitalize its coffee sector, in a deal officials say could return the country to the world coffee map and transform rural livelihoods. The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Agriculture, signed the partnership with JR Farms Group Inc. on Sunday. The pact is projected to unlock more than US$60 million in investment, support over 200,000 farmers, develop more than 250,000 hectares of coffee farms, plant 200 million coffee trees, and create over 300,000 jobs across the value chain. Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah described the signing as a defining moment for the country’s agricultural agenda. “The true measure of our success will not be the signatures today on this document,” Nuetah said. “It will be measured by the number of farmers that will be empowered, the number of jobs that will be created, the number of young people engaged, the hectares developed, and the livelihoods improved as a result of this partnership.” The deal targets every link of the coffee chain. Plans include large-scale farmer training, distribution of improved, climate-resilient seedlings, construction of modern processing facilities, expanded market access, and value addition to move Liberia beyond raw bean exports. Youth engagement and rural transformation are central pillars. Officials say the project will prioritize women and young people, aiming to make coffee farming a viable business for the next generation. At the heart of the strategy is Coffee Liberica, Liberia’s flagship product under the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s One Country One Priority Product, or OCOP, initiative. Known for its unique flavor profile and larger beans, Liberica accounts for less than 2% of global production. Liberia hopes to use that rarity as a premium market advantage. JR Farms, an Africa-focused agribusiness firm, has operations in coffee, cocoa, and other commodities. Under the deal, the company will lead technical support, off-take agreements, and link Liberian producers to international buyers. The Liberian government will provide land policy support, extension services, and coordination through county agriculture offices. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs played a key role in brokering the deal, part of the government’s broader Economic Diplomacy initiative. Diplomatic channels helped facilitate early engagements between JR Farms and Liberian stakeholders, leading to feasibility studies in Lofa, Bong, and Nimba counties — traditional coffee belts. “This is what economic diplomacy looks like in practice,” a senior Foreign Ministry official said. “We are using our missions abroad to bring investment home, create jobs, and expand exports.” Liberia was once a notable coffee exporter, with Liberica prized in niche European markets through the mid-20th century. Years of conflict, underinvestment, and disease wiped out much of the sector. National output collapsed from tens of thousands of metric tons in the 1970s to negligible levels today.
