{Monrovia, Liberia – October 30, 2025]: Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah has concluded a successful four-day working mission to Nansha District, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China, where he participated in the 2025 International Conference on Agricultural Service Trade held under the theme “Digitization-Empowered Value Chain.”

The visit, organized at the request of China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, focused on strengthening agricultural trade collaboration, advancing technology-driven farming practices, and deepening the relationship between Liberia and China. Minister Nuetah was joined by Mr. Peter D. Gbawoquiya, Director of Sector Coordination at the Ministry.

Throughout the mission, Minister Nuetah engaged in a series of high-level discussions and bilateral meetings, resulting in renewed commitments and new opportunities for agricultural investment and modernization in Liberia.

One of the key outcomes of the visit was the agreement between the Ministry of Agriculture and Yuan Longping Agriculture Corporation to renew the existing Memorandum of Understanding to resume the company’s operations in Liberia. Once all legal and financial arrangements are finalized, Yuan Longping will resume its activities in Liberia, focusing on seed multiplication, agricultural research, and mechanized farming.

During the discussions, representatives of Yuan Longping highlighted some logistical challenges that had previously delayed project implementation, including poor road access to project sites and delays in the delivery of agricultural chemicals. In response, Minister Nuetah assured the delegation that the Ministry is already exploring alternative project sites, such as Bong Mines, which offers vast, accessible farmland suitable for large-scale agricultural operations.

Yuan Longping has supported Liberia’s agricultural growth through the China Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center at CARI, Suakoko, a hub for hybrid rice research and development.

In a related development, the Mainland China Group expressed strong interest in expanding its investment portfolio in Liberia’s agriculture sector. The company disclosed that it has already developed new varieties of rice and sweet corn suitable for local production and is planning a five- to ten-year expansion program. The initiative aims to increase rice production from 30 to 50 metric tons annually and cassava production from 1,000 metric tons to an estimated 500,000 metric tons per year, driven by growing demand both in China and globally.

For their part, China Union reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Liberia’s agricultural development in addition to its mining operations. The company expressed readiness to invest in food production and value chain development projects, demonstrating a strong desire to contribute to Liberia’s agricultural growth through long-term partnerships and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Minister Nuetah commended the Government and people’s repunblic of China for their unwavering partnership and collaboration with Liberia, highlighting ongoing collaboration in agricultural mechanization to establish eight mechanization hubs across Liberia.  

“We want to thank the government and people of China for the support they are providing to help us realize our agriculture mechanization drive. This mechanization drive is intended to spur the modernization of our sector through the adoption of improved technologies and best practices that increase productivity, enhance value chain development, and strengthen the capacity of farmers and extension technicians,” Minister Nuetah said.

The Agriculture Minister also announced that the Ministry would continue to collaborate closely with the Chinese Embassy in Monrovia and relevant local stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the agreed action points. These engagements are expected to make a significant contribution to Liberia’s food security objectives and the Government’s ongoing efforts to reduce rice imports by 70% within five years under the “Liberians Feed Yourselves” initiative.