MONROVIA: President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has called on Liberians to subsidy their own agriculture by eating what they produce.
President Boakai made the pronouncement when he launched the National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) 2024-2030 in Monrovia.
The NADP aims to guide the country’s agricultural sector for six years which focuses on stabilizing commodity prices across Liberia.
The National Agriculture Development Plan 2024-2030, was launched on Thursday July 10, 2024, at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town.
It was held under the theme: “Promoting food self-sufficiency and indigenous wealth creation through agriculture value chain development.”
In remark at the event, President Boakai highlighted that the launch of the NADP will have a meaningful impact on the nation.
He announced that in six-years, there will be agriculture development initiatives and Liberians feed yourself agenda.
According to the Liberian leader, NADP seeks to boost the nation’s agriculture sector and make Liberia self-sufficient in food production.
“As we navigate the means of challenging times and trying to change the economic crisis that undermines human civilization, we must ensure food security for our people,” President Boakai added.
He also said NADP is not just a plan but a road map to a more secured and sustainable future that will be built on the striving agriculture sector.
“I always say, when we support rice and chicken eggs from other country, we are actually subsiding their agriculture. Now, let us subsidy our own agriculture by eating what we produce. The NAPD is a policy framework intended to do just that,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, President Boakai called on all Liberians especially key stakeholders in the agriculture including farmers, agribusinesses that their participation is crucial and their investment funds are inextensible as well as their commitment is critical as they embark on the journey together to meet those targets.
The NADP plan is considered to be a significant step towards a food secured future and the creation of jobs for women and youths by guiding, or attracting agricultural investments coming from the government, development partners and private sector.
The plan, when fully implemented, will empower smallholder farmers and other members of the agriculture value chain in promoting sustainable farming practices and technologies that have the potential to transform the sector.
According to the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, within the next six years, the government is expected to invest US$418 million to support the agriculture plan. The Ministry has been mandated by the President to support the sector.
Dr. Nuetah disclosed that the plan was drafted and validated by stakeholders, within his first hundred days in office.
The launch of NADP was graced by officials of government, international partners, farmers, Agri-entrepreneurs amongst others. Writes Linda Gbartie.
