MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Amid ongoing challenges related to food security, climate change, and rural development, Liberia’s media landscape is witnessing a milestone as one organization celebrates a decade of dedicated efforts to highlight agriculture and environmental issues. Over the past ten years, the Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalist Network (LAEJN) has been instrumental in amplifying rural perspectives, strengthening journalism skills, and bringing farming topics to the forefront of national conversations..
Speaking on the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS)’s Super Morning Show on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, LAEJN’s Founder and Executive Director, Jefferson Togbah Mansah, reflected on the organization’s journey from its grassroots beginnings to national influence.
LAEJN was established in 2015 following Mansah’s personal success in development communication. After receiving the George Atkins Communication Award from Farm Radio International in Ghana, recognizing his efforts to improve smallholder farmer access to vital information, he sought to expand the impact beyond individual achievement.
“The award came with a small benefit, but I wanted it to create a larger impact,” Mansah recalled. “That’s what sparked the idea of forming a network to raise a generation of journalists dedicated to agriculture and environmental issues.”
Prepared with degrees in Integrated Development Studies and Sustainable Development from Cuttington University, Mansah also completed specialized training in agricultural journalism. Before founding LAEJN, he had a successful run as a development reporter, winning multiple national media awards. The organization gained international recognition in 2018 after becoming a member of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ), putting Liberia on the global map of specialized reporting.
Over the past 10 years, LAEJN has evolved into a vibrant network of around 40 trained reporters, mostly based at community radio stations in rural areas such as Bong, Lofa, and Nimba counties, particularly in cocoa-producing regions.
Mansah noted that LAEJN’s mission is not just about reporting, but about turning journalism into a tool for agricultural transformation.
“We’re not just producing journalists; we’re nurturing specialists,” he said. “We want the media to play a leading role in shaping national priorities for agriculture, just as it does with politics.”
The network’s core activities include training reporters on agriculture, climate change, and environmental topics, and developing farmer-centered content. These materials ranging from radio dramas and interviews to newsletters and social media to inform rural communities about market trends, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and national policy updates.
Among LAEJN’s standout programs is its youth-oriented campaign titled “Connecting Farming Generations”, which profiles young agripreneurs and rural changemakers. The initiative aims to reshape how young Liberians view agriculture and motivate them to pursue it as a viable career path.
Mansah also criticized the slow communication surrounding the rollout of the National Agriculture Development Plan, part of the government’s ARREST Agenda, where “A” stands for agriculture. He pointed out the alarming shortage of agricultural extension officers, fewer than 200 for the entire country, leaving farmers without adequate access to information.
“With less than 200 extension officers nationwide, communication must fill that gap,” he emphasized.
To improve this, Mansah proposed an inter-agency communication strategy involving the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), National Fisheries & Aquaculture Authority (NaFA), Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA), Cooperative Development Agency (CDA), and the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) to ensure streamlined messaging to farmers and eliminate overlap or misinformation.
LAEJN’s outreach strategy continues to rely heavily on community radio, currently working with nine rural stations, while also engaging young people through social media. In addition, field monitoring teams and focus group discussions help assess program impact and gather feedback directly from farmers.
One recent success involved a joint campaign with LACRA, where the dissemination of accurate cocoa pricing information allowed farmers in Bong and Nimba counties to reject exploitative buyers and negotiate better prices, boosting their confidence and income.
Looking ahead, Mansah envisions a stronger role for media in addressing national food insecurity, especially with Liberia still spending nearly $200 million annually on rice imports. He stressed that development, particularly in agriculture, must become a core part of the country’s media agenda.
“Every Liberian eats daily, so agriculture must be everyone’s business,” Mansah said.
He called for increased youth involvement and stronger ties with universities and vocational institutions. LAEJN plans to roll out campus-based outreach in Bong, Nimba, Grand Bassa, and Lofa, encouraging students to take up roles in agricultural journalism, extension, and advocacy.
The network’s latest appearances on national media have triggered enthusiastic responses, with listeners from counties such as Bong and Grand Bassa sharing stories and applauding LAEJN’s work. Several echoed the call for:
- Government officials to engage more directly in farming activities.
- Increased investment and strategic support for agricultural communication.
- A broader media focus on food systems, not just political affairs.
After a decade of meaningful engagement, LAEJN stands as a key communication bridge between rural communities, national policymakers, and the general public. But as Mansah noted, the work continues.
“We’ve laid the foundation. The media can help shift the national mindset but we need sustained support to keep going.”
About LAEJN:
Founded in 2015, the Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalist Network (LAEJN) works to promote informed journalism and public engagement on agriculture, food security, climate resilience, and rural development. For partnerships or inquiries: agrijourna@gmail.com
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