Sankolo emphasized that the initiative extends beyond simply handing out seedlings, noting that participating farmers will also receive continuous technical guidance, farm management training, and extension support to ensure healthy cultivation and higher productivity
GBARNGA, Bong County – The Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) has taken another major step toward restoring the country’s once-thriving coffee industry by rolling out a nationwide distribution of 750,000 high-quality coffee seedlings to farmers in five counties.
By Selma Lomax, selma.lomax@frontpageafricaonline.com
The ambitious initiative, officially launched in Gbarnga, Bong County, forms part of the government’s broader agricultural transformation agenda aimed at increasing coffee production, improving rural livelihoods, and positioning Liberia once again as a competitive producer of Liberica coffee on the international market.
The exercise is being implemented in collaboration with the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
Speaking at the launch ceremony, LACRA Director General Christopher Sankolo said the distribution represents more than just the provision of seedlings, describing it as a strategic investment in the country’s agricultural future.
According to him, rebuilding the coffee sector will stimulate economic growth, generate employment for thousands of rural residents, and expand export opportunities for Liberian farmers.
“We are planting the seeds of economic transformation. Every seedling distributed today represents a future source of income for a Liberian family and another step toward restoring our country’s proud coffee heritage,” Sankolo declared.
“Our commitment does not end with the distribution of these seedlings. We will continue working alongside our farmers through training, monitoring, and technical assistance because the ultimate objective is to establish sustainable coffee plantations capable of competing on the global market,” Sankolo stated.
He explained that the first phase of the exercise will prioritize farmers in Bong, Nimba, Lofa, Montserrado, and Bomi Counties, with Bong County serving as the initial distribution hub. Communities in Kokoyah, Panta, Kpaai, Sanoyea, and sections of Jorquelleh District are among the first beneficiaries under the program.
Sankolo emphasized that the initiative extends beyond simply handing out seedlings, noting that participating farmers will also receive continuous technical guidance, farm management training, and extension support to ensure healthy cultivation and higher productivity.
“Our commitment does not end with the distribution of these seedlings. We will continue working alongside our farmers through training, monitoring, and technical assistance because the ultimate objective is to establish sustainable coffee plantations capable of competing on the global market,” he stated.
The LACRA boss further stressed that reviving Liberia’s coffee industry aligns with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr.’s ARREST Agenda, which places strong emphasis on agriculture as a key driver of national development and economic diversification.
“Liberia possesses the climate, fertile soil, and historical advantage to become a major coffee-producing nation once again. Through strategic partnerships and sustained investment, we are determined to make Liberian coffee a globally recognized brand,” Sankolo added.
He encouraged farmers to fully embrace the initiative by properly maintaining the seedlings, saying their commitment will determine the long-term success of the national coffee revitalization campaign.
Farmers who received the seedlings expressed appreciation to LACRA and its development partners, describing the intervention as timely and promising. Many said the initiative offers renewed hope for increased household incomes while creating opportunities for young people to engage in commercial agriculture instead of depending solely on traditional subsistence farming.
