Stakeholders in Liberia’s rubber industry have celebrated notable progress since the National Rubber Conference held in Ghanga, Bong County, over a year ago. The conference, which convened more than 300 participants representing over 100,000 rubber farmers, local authorities, and international experts, aimed to strengthen Liberia’s rubber sector and boost its contribution to national economic growth. Speaking at a joint press conference, Tom Bannie Brown, Vice President of the Rubber Planters Association of Liberia (RPAL), highlighted the sector’s major milestones.
“We are pleased to report that for the first time in the history of Liberia’s rubber industry, an independent body determines and posts the monthly rubber price. This has created trust between buyers and sellers and addressed one of the key concerns raised at the National Rubber Conference,” he said. The monthly rubber prices are now calculated by the Liberia National Rubber Pricing Committee (LNRPC), an eight-member body established by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai in November 2024. The committee includes representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Justice, the National Investment Commission, the Rubber Development Fund (RDF), RPAL, and major rubber investors including Firestone Liberia.
Brown added that the committee meets monthly to ensure consistent pricing, a move seen as critical for maintaining transparency in the sector. The press conference also highlighted key development interventions for Liberian rubber farmers: Improved Planting Materials: Approximately 202,000 improved budded stumps were distributed to 546 farmers across Bong, Grand Bassa, and Montserrado counties. Agricultural Infrastructure: Thirty-five nurseries were established across multiple counties, with 28 fully operational and equipped with cultivation tools and fertilizers.
Technical Support: Twenty-three motorbikes and electronic tablets were deployed to support county coordinators and technicians in providing extension services to farmers nationwide. Capacity Building: Thirty field staff received training on nursery management, bud grafting, and tapping techniques. Farmer Registration: In Bong, Grand Bassa, and Grand Cape Mount counties, 525 rubber farmers were registered for free digital identification cards, with registration ongoing in other regions. Brown emphasized the role of infrastructure in improving market access, noting recent road improvements in Grand Bassa County and upcoming road grading projects from Kakata to 26th Gate in collaboration with Firestone.
He expressed appreciation for the continued leadership of President Boakai and the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. I. Alexander Nurtah. “Their vision recognizes agriculture as a major driver of economic growth and has been key to implementing the ARREST Agenda for inclusive development, particularly for smallholder farmers,” he said. The Rubber Development Fund and RPAL concluded the press conference by reaffirming their commitment to working with all stakeholders to strengthen Liberia’s rubber sector and enhance the livelihoods of the country’s farmers.
Author: Cooper Sangar
