A recent initiative in Liberia is working to revitalize the country's coffee sector by equipping small-scale farmers with modern agricultural knowledge. The program, called Seeds4Liberia, recently held a four-day training workshop in Suakoko, Bong County, for agricultural extension officers and lead farmers from five coffee-producing counties.
Liberia's coffee production, primarily the native Coffea liberica species, was once a major export but has declined sharply over the past few decades. After producing approximately 209,000 60kg bags in 1985, the sector suffered from outdated farming methods and infrastructure damage from civil unrest. The new training program, funded by the European Union and run by international agricultural research groups, aims to reverse this trend by focusing on sustainable and climate-smart practices.
The workshop trained 30 participants in good agronomic practices, including soil fertility management, pruning techniques, pest control, and agroforestry. The goal is to create a multiplier effect, with each participant expected to train at least ten other farmers in their community. This addresses a critical shortage of agricultural support in the country, where the current ratio is reportedly one extension officer for every 35,000 farmers. The project's success could help re-establish Liberian coffee, particularly the unique Liberica species, in the international specialty market.