The country looks to raise yields and cut imports through regional cooperation and new local projects.

LIBERIA – Liberia is stepping up efforts to grow more rice by working with Nigeria’s Jigawa State, as the country looks to cut rising imports and improve local supply.

Agriculture Minister Alexander Nuetah met Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi in Monrovia on April 8 to discuss closer ties in rice production and value chain development. The talks focused on food security, private sector investment, and the exchange of technical skills.

“Liberia is seeking to improve its productivity by adopting Jigawa best practices, particularly in the areas of mechanization, irrigation systems and structured farmer support programmes,” Nuetah said, as reported by local media.

Liberia ranks among the top rice consumers in Africa, with about 133 kilograms per person each year. However, local output still falls short. Data shows that Liberia produced an average of 287,400 tonnes of rice between 2020 and 2024, with yields at about 1.1 tonnes per hectare. In comparison, Jigawa State reached about 218,000 tonnes in 2024, with higher yields of around 1.67 tonnes per hectare.

Imports continue to rise as demand grows. Rice imports into Liberia increased from 285,756 tonnes in 2019 to 658,192 tonnes in 2023. The government now aims to reverse this trend by learning from regional success and building stronger local systems.

At the same time, Liberia has launched new efforts at home to expand production. In January, the Ministry of Agriculture announced plans to build a rice processing plant in Saclepea, Nimba County. The project forms part of a five year plan to cultivate at least 7,400 hectares of lowland rice across the country.

About 2,000 hectares will sit in Nimba County, which plays a key role in the rice sector. The ministry also plans to set up 13 mechanization centers nationwide, with three in Nimba, to support land preparation and harvesting.

Nuetah urged farmers to increase output and meet local demand. “We eat more rice, so you must grow rice, and let it be plenty on the market,” he said.

The government links these efforts to its wider farm policy under the National Agriculture Development Plan for 2025 to 2029, which covers production, processing, and market access.

Published Date: April 14, 2026