This initiative is aimed at boosting food security, empowering women in agriculture, and fostering sustainable economic growth in Liberia.
Panta, Bong County–The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) has formalized a strategic partnership with the Panta Pride Foundation and Collective Impact United to launch a 500-acre lowland rice farming project in Panta District, Bong County.
By Selma Lomax, [email protected]
This initiative is aimed at boosting food security, empowering women in agriculture, and fostering sustainable economic growth in Liberia.
At a ceremony marking the agreement, Liberia’s Agriculture Minister, Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, underscored the initiative’s significance in the country’s ongoing efforts to enhance domestic rice production. The project is expected to benefit over 1,000 farmers within the district.
The Ministry of Agriculture has committed to providing $500,000 in resources, which includes $300,000 in direct funding for farm operations.
An additional $200,000 will be allocated for in-kind contributions, including farming equipment such as power tillers, harvesters, and irrigation tools, as part of a Mechanization Hub being established in Panta.
Dr. Nuetah emphasized that the project aligns with Liberia’s National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) and is a national priority. The collaboration will be evaluated in 2026 with plans to scale the lowland rice project from 500 acres to 5,000 acres by 2029.
Speaking from Garmue Town, Panta District, on February 8, 2025, Dr. Nuetah reiterated that this partnership forms part of the Ministry’s broader strategy to mobilize farmers and increase the cultivation of lowland rice by 6,500 hectares nationwide.
“This project is at the heart of the Liberians Feed Yourselves Agenda, which aims to increase rice productivity, Liberia’s staple food,” he stated. He also noted that the country currently imports about 70% of its rice, a situation the government aims to reverse.
The initiative is focused on shifting from traditional upland farming to more sustainable and productive lowland rice cultivation. Dr. Nuetah recently concluded a farmer mobilization tour in Nimba and Bong counties and launched the 2025 Season Production Program in these regions. The program aims to reach the 6,500-hectare cultivation target, with Nimba, Bong, and Lofa counties as the first areas for expansion.
President Joseph Boakai has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting farmers in achieving this goal. For 2025, the government has set specific targets for rice cultivation in the key food-producing counties: Nimba (1,700 hectares), Bong (1,600 hectares), and Lofa (1,200 hectares).
The government is collaborating with international organizations and local farming groups to develop the targeted 6,500 hectares of lowland rice, providing funding for land development, technical support, mechanized farming tools, irrigation systems, and high-yield rice varieties that mature in just three months.
Dr. Nuetah’s vision is to ensure that the counties of Nimba, Bong, and Lofa become the first regions in Liberia to replace imported rice with locally grown varieties. “The goal is to increase self-sufficiency, economic empowerment, and national pride,” he added, emphasizing the importance of returning to the soil to cultivate more rice.
Quanuquanei Alfred Karmue, Executive Director of Panta Pride and General Manager of Collective Impact United, expressed his gratitude to the government for their support.
He stated that the main objective of the partnership is to establish Panta District as a center of excellence for lowland rice farming, utilizing an evidence-based outcome strategy.
Karmue also revealed that under the agreement, Collective Impact United will invest $500,000 in international financing to implement the project. “Our aim is to increase rice yields, train local farmers, empower women and youth in agriculture, and create a transparent monitoring and evaluation system,” he explained.
Panta Pride Foundation, which is known for its wide-ranging development projects in Bong County, is collaborating with Collective Impact United on other agricultural initiatives, including kidney bean farming and the production of diabetes-friendly rice. These efforts also include rehabilitating key farm-to-market roads in the region.
Karmue further highlighted that the project’s model, based on collective impact, involves partnerships between foundations and corporations to drive sustainable agricultural practices. “We aim to commercialize farming by starting small but with the long-term goal of expanding globally. Our efforts are already meaningful, and with continued support, we hope to reach international markets,” he said.
With mechanized farming and precision agriculture at the core of this project, Karmue emphasized that modern farming techniques will be applied to manage larger plots. “For instance, once we establish a farm, we can scale up operations, such as a 24-acre section within the 500-acre farm,” he noted.
The partnership’s focus on empowering farmers, particularly women and youth, is one of its most transformative aspects, with the potential to create long-term change for Liberia’s agricultural sector and economy.
