Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah has urged residents of Rivercess County to take advantage of the county’s fertile land and increase their participation in agriculture as part of the government’s push to achieve national food self-sufficiency. Dr. Nuetah made the call during a community engagement with farmers and local leaders in Cestos City as part of his ongoing nationwide county tour aimed at strengthening farmer participation and identifying agricultural opportunities across Liberia. Addressing the gathering, the Minister warned that Liberia’s heavy reliance on imported food continues to strain the national economy.
“The purpose of our plan is to ensure that Liberians grow more of what we eat and feed ourselves,” Dr. Nuetah said. “When we depend on other countries to feed us, we become poorer because the money that should be used to build our homes and develop our country is instead spent on importing food.” According to the Minister, rice production remains a national priority because it is Liberia’s staple food, yet the country continues to spend millions of dollars annually importing rice. “Every one of us eats rice. When the rice we eat is produced outside Liberia, the money leaves our country. But if we grow it here, that money stays in Liberia and benefits our people,” he said. Dr. Nuetah also highlighted other priority commodities under the government’s agricultural development strategy, including cassava, corn, and tree crops such as coconut, cashew, cocoa and coffee as well as fisheries and aquaculture.
The Minister explained that the government is promoting a “One County, One Priority Commodity” approach to agricultural development, encouraging counties to focus on crops where they have the greatest comparative advantage. “We are here to listen to you,” he told residents. “Tell us what you can do best here in River Cess so that the government can support you to do more of it.” Dr. Nuetah also announced that the government will support the cultivation of 100 hectares of lowland rice in River Cess County as a starter project to expand rice production. River Cess is a county where many young people are currently engaged in mining. The Minister said expanding agricultural production, particularly lowland rice farming, will help create alternative livelihoods for youth while strengthening the county’s contribution to Liberia’s food security.
Meanwhile, River Cess County Senator Wellington Geevon Smith underscored the county’s limited economic opportunities and emphasized the need to develop the coconut sector as a key driver of local economic growth. “We believe agriculture, especially coconut production, can change that,” Senator Smith said. “If the government supports us to develop the coconut sector, it will create jobs and increase incomes for our people.” He also pointed to the county’s significant coconut resources. “Mr. Minister, please give our coconut attention. We have between 500,000 and one million coconut trees here, and the national government can help us develop the sector,” he said.
While in Rivercess County, Dr. Nuetah also visited several coconut farms and local processors, where he observed ongoing efforts to expand coconut production and value addition. The Minister encouraged farmers to increase production and assured them of the Ministry’s support to strengthen the coconut value chain. The engagement forms part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s nationwide county tour aimed at strengthening farmer engagement and advancing the government’s food security agenda.
