Monrovia, Liberia – September 10, 2024: The World Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have successfully concluded a joint technical implementation support and field supervision mission for the Smallholder Agriculture Transformation and Agribusiness Revitalization Project (STAR-P). The mission, which included both technical sessions and field visits, took place from August 26 to September 4, 2024. The field visit covered six key project implementation counties: Bomi, Bong, Grand Cape Mount, Margibi, Montserrado, and Nimba Counties.
The primary aim of the field visits was to gain firsthand insights into the progress of the STAR-P project and assess its impact of the implementation, with special emphasis on the adherence to environmental and social safeguards. The team visited a diverse range of project beneficiaries, including small and medium enterprises, cooperatives, farmer-based organizations, and agribusinesses, that are engaged in activities such as the production, processing, and packaging of rice, oil palm, horticulture, kitchen gardens, crosscutting, and aggregation.
Leading the World Bank delegation was Dr. Osman Kadir Gyasi, Senior Agriculture Economist and Task Team Leader. The IFAD team was headed by its Program Officer Mr. Johnson Kolubah. Representing the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) were Deputy Minister for Regional Development, Research, and Extension, Mr. Moses R. Gbanyan, and Deputy Minister for Administration, Mrs. Antoinette F. Dukuly. They were accompanied by STAR-P's Operations Manager, Mr. Stephen Marvie, and Tarnue N. Jeke, Operations Manager of Rural Economic Transformation Project, RETRAP, a sister program funded by the World Bank.
"There are a few challenges I’ve observed from other areas we’ve visited, but I am very impressed with how you have organized this farm and the work you are doing," remarked Mr. Osman Gyasi Kadir, addressing members of the Daydor farmer-based organization in Kpatuo, Nimba County.
The successful completion of this mission reaffirms the strong collaboration between the World Bank, IFAD, and the Ministry of Agriculture, and highlights the significant progress being made under the STAR-P initiative. The project continues to play a crucial role in transforming Liberia's agricultural sector by empowering smallholder farmers and agribusinesses across the country.
Deputy Minister Moses R. Gbanyan, reassured farmers of the ministry’s commitment to enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of smallholder farmers and agribusinesses through improved agricultural practices, market access, and value chain development. 
The Ministry of Agriculture’s Smallholder Agriculture Transformation and Agribusiness Revitalization Project (STAR-P) is funded by the World Bank and IFAD.