Monrovia, Liberia – A funding agreement worth five million euros (about US$5.3 million) has been signed by the Liberian government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for the Scaling-Up Agroecology Approaches in Liberia project.
The European Union’s assistance will help Liberia’s agriculture industry by encouraging sustainable methods that will make smallholder farmers more resilient.
The project is a component of the World Bank and IFAD-co-financed Smallholder Agriculture Transformation and Agribusiness Revitalization Project (STAR-P). These funds will be added to the US$28 million that IFAD has already set aside for the project, which is scheduled to begin in 2025 and last for four years.
The project’s main goal is to promote agroecological techniques in order to increase food security, boost rural people’ livelihoods, and increase their resistance to climate change. It will concentrate on boosting horticulture output by utilizing irrigation technology, sustainable water management techniques, soil fertility augmentation, and creative co-creation models that promote farmer cooperation.
The Government of Liberia was represented at the signing event by Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Minister of Finance and Development Planning, while IFAD Country Representative Pascaline Barankeba signed on the organization’s behalf.
“The grant agreement reflects the strong commitment of Liberia’s international partners to support the government’s development goals,” Minister Ngafuan said in his remarks, highlighting the partnership’s significance.
He stated, “This signing is a concrete example of how our international partners are investing in Liberia’s future, not just a piece of paper.” It strengthens our common goal of a more sustainable and inclusive agriculture industry. The ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development and our National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP), which seeks to transform Liberia’s agricultural environment, are exactly in line with this initiative.
In addition, Minister Ngafuan thanked the European Union for its kind donation and said he hoped the grant will significantly and favorably affect Liberian farmers, particularly in terms of assisting them in adjusting to the increasing difficulties brought on by climate change.
“We are optimistic that this project will improve food security and increase opportunities for income generation by assisting Liberian farmers in addressing the vulnerabilities posed by climate change.”
He also emphasized the government’s emphasis on boosting food production.
Additionally, Minister Ngafuan promised that the government will always assist farmers and their means of subsistence, particularly by bolstering the agricultural value chain.
Following the approval of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development and the introduction of the National Agriculture Development Plan, IFAD Country Representative Barankeba stated that she was pleased to sign these funding instruments since the two projects are a great fit with it.
She reaffirmed IFAD’s dedication to aiding Liberia by making present and future investments there.
Madam Barenkeba declared that early next year, IFAD will make the nation allocation under IFAD 13 public. “This will offer a chance to enhance the existing investment or find a new one, thus elevating our collaboration to new heights.”
Among those present at the signing event were Acting Deputy Minister for Administration Paul T. Lamin, Agriculture Minister Dr. Alexander Nuetah, and Deputy Finance Ministers Anthony G. Myers and Tanneh G. Brunson.
