By Edwin N. Khakie
Bong County, Liberia, August 6, 2026 – The Farmers Union of Liberia (FUL) is urging farmers’ cooperatives and federations to take ownership of agricultural interventions under the Seeds4Liberia Initiative, saying sustainability depends on how beneficiaries manage and protect the support provided to them.
FUL Director Josephine Francis made the statement during the handover of improved seeds and planting materials under the European Union-supported Seeds4Liberia Initiative in Bong County.
Speaking at the ceremony, Madam Francis said agricultural projects can succeed only when farmers treat them as their own and use the inputs to increase production, improve livelihoods, and strengthen food security.
She cautioned beneficiaries against mismanaging the improved seeds and planting materials, stressing that the initiative provides an opportunity for farmers to expand production and contribute to Liberia’s drive for food self-sufficiency.
“I always tell our farmers and their families to take ownership,” Francis said. “When you take ownership of projects that come to your cooperatives and federations, that is what makes them successful.”
Madam Francis also pointed to soybean production as a promising income source for Liberian farmers, noting that the country has an available market that local producers can tap into.
She said research shows that companies continue to import thousands of tons of soybeans from Brazil annually, an indication that Liberian farmers could benefit from increased local production.
“We already have a market that we need to tap into,” she said, expressing confidence that Liberian farmers can meet the growing demand through increased production.
Madam Francis commended the Government of Liberia, the European Union, and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) for supporting the country’s agriculture sector.
She particularly welcomed the introduction of seven improved cassava varieties, saying the new planting materials could help increase yields and improve farmers’ earnings if properly managed.
She urged farmers to understand the characteristics of each cassava variety and apply the right farming practices to maximize production.
Madam Francis further noted that emerging private-sector investments in agriculture could create new opportunities for farmers through stronger value chains and greater demand for locally produced crops.
She thanked the European Union and other development partners for their continued support and expressed optimism that the Seeds4Liberia Initiative will contribute to national food security, job creation, and economic growth.
