Monrovia, February 5, 2025 – In a major step toward transforming Liberia’s agricultural landscape, the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with ECOWAS, hosted a round-table  National Consultations and Partnership Workshop on the Transitioning of Agroecology into Liberia’s National Agriculture Plan. The high-level gathering, held in the ministry’s conference room at the Ministerial Complex, brought together over 80 local partners from various institutions, including government agencies, research bodies, Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Centers, farmer cooperatives, and international development organizations.

Opening the workshop, Deputy Minister for Planning and Development, Hon. David K. Akoi, representing Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, emphasized the critical role of agroecology in ensuring food security, improving soil health, and reducing dependence on harmful synthetic chemicals. He urged participants to contribute their expertise, noting that integrating agroecological practices into the National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) would strengthen Liberia’s agricultural resilience and enhance food production nationwide. “This initiative is about empowering our farmers to produce safe, quality, and healthier food while preserving our environment,” he stated.

Providing a strategic overview of the initiative, Halala Willie Kokulo, Director of the Division of Land Development and Water Resources and National Correspondent (NC) at the Ministry of Agriculture, outlined ECOWAS’ commitment to promoting sustainable farming. As part of its Common Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP), ECOWAS launched a Regional Agroecology Program across its fifteen member states, aimed at equipping family farms with eco-friendly farming techniques to combat food insecurity and climate change. Liberia’s participation was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in August 2021 with the ECOWAS Regional Agency for Agriculture and Water Resources (ARAA), laying the groundwork for nationwide adoption of agroecological practices.

The ECOWAS Agroecology Program in Liberia (EAPL), jointly funded by ECOWAS, the French Development Agency (AFD), and the European Union (EU), is designed to help farmers transition to sustainable agriculture while boosting economic performance and environmental resilience. It also seeks to create a supportive policy environment for private investment in ecologically intensive agriculture. A key pillar of the program is knowledge co-construction, ensuring that best practices are developed collaboratively and effectively integrated into Liberia’s agricultural framework.

During the workshop, the participating institutions engaged in in-depth discussions on strategies for incorporating agroecology into national policies and practices. The event provided a crucial platform for policymakers, researchers, and agricultural experts to exchange ideas, assess existing challenges, and propose solutions to enhance agroecology adoption. Topics covered included governance of natural resources, climate risk mitigation, and capacity-building initiatives for local farmers especially the emerging youthful population.

ECOWAS has structured its Agroecology Program around five core components, with a strong focus on policy development, financial support for local initiatives, and stakeholder engagement. ARAA, based in Lomé, Togo, is leading the program’s implementation across the region, facilitating projects that equip family farms with the tools and knowledge needed to embrace sustainable farming methods. A key milestone in this initiative was the project launch workshop in Dakar in November 2021, where financing mechanisms and implementation strategies were outlined.

Since 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture has been actively implementing agroecology-focused activities in Liberia, including monitoring of training center and partnership, validating training manuals, fostering national and regional partnerships, and conducting extensive awareness campaigns through radio broadcasts. These efforts align with the country’s broader vision for sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture.

With the successful conclusion of the workshop, Liberia moves closer to embedding agroecology into its national agricultural agenda. The Ministry of Agriculture reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening partnerships and ensuring that sustainable farming practices become the cornerstone of Liberia’s agricultural future. As the country embraces a greener, more resilient agricultural sector, this initiative marks a significant leap forward in ensuring food security, protecting natural resources, and promoting economic growth.