LACRA Distributes 700K Coffee Liberica Seedlings to Revive Coffee Industry | News

The Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA), in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), has launched a major initiative to revive Liberia’s indigenous coffee industry with the distribution of approximately 700,000 Coffee Liberica seedlings to farmers across five counties.

The distribution, which marks the first phase of a nationwide coffee revitalization program, is expected to significantly boost the production of Coffee Liberica—Liberia’s indigenous coffee variety that has earned international recognition for its unique quality and flavor.

According to LACRA, the first beneficiaries of the seedling distribution are farmers from Bong, Bomi, Lofa, Montserrado, and Nimba counties, with additional counties expected to benefit as the program expands.

The initiative forms part of the Government of Liberia’s broader strategy to restore Coffee Liberica as one of the country’s leading cash crops, increase agricultural exports, improve rural livelihoods, and create sustainable income opportunities for thousands of farming households.

Speaking during the distribution exercise, LACRA Director General Christopher D. Sankolo called on farmers to take full responsibility for nurturing the seedlings, emphasizing that the success of the national coffee revival program depends largely on their commitment.

“We are urging you to ensure that the seedlings we are providing to you today are planted and given all the necessary attention,” Sankolo told the farmers.

He described the beneficiaries as pioneers of an ambitious national effort aimed at repositioning Liberia as a competitive producer of premium-quality Coffee Liberica on the global market.

“This should not be taken for granted,” he cautioned. “We don’t want this dream to die because you are the first beneficiaries.”

According to Sankolo, his administration remains fully committed to making substantial investments in Coffee Liberica production as part of efforts to diversify Liberia’s agricultural economy and increase foreign exchange earnings.

He noted that Coffee Liberica, which originated in Liberia, continues to enjoy a strong reputation among international coffee buyers because of its distinctive taste, aroma, and resilience.

“Our administration will heavily invest in the production of Coffee Liberica,” he assured.

The LACRA Director General also praised the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) for its technical partnership and continued support, describing the collaboration as a critical milestone in rebuilding Liberia’s coffee sector.

He said the partnership demonstrates the shared commitment of both institutions to restoring Coffee Liberica as a commercially viable commodity capable of competing successfully in international markets.

Sankolo further explained that beyond increasing production, the initiative seeks to stimulate rural economic growth by creating employment opportunities, improving farmers’ incomes, and encouraging greater private sector investment in the coffee value chain.

“This initiative is part of our broader vision to transform Coffee Liberica into a commercially viable commodity capable of competing in international markets while creating economic opportunities for Liberian farmers,” he said.

Also speaking during the program, LACRA Head of Operations and Technical Services, Alpha K. Gongolee, commended IITA and LACRA staff whose dedication made the successful establishment and management of the Coffee Liberica nursery possible.

He described the distribution exercise as another important milestone in the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Liberia’s agricultural sector.

Gongolee emphasized that the successful production and distribution of the seedlings demonstrate LACRA’s determination to provide farmers with improved planting materials capable of increasing productivity and restoring confidence in Liberia’s coffee industry.

“This initiative is expected to contribute to the expansion of Liberia’s coffee production, improve farmers’ livelihoods, and promote Coffee Liberica as one of the country’s key agricultural commodities for both domestic and international markets,” Gongolee said.

Farmers receiving the seedlings welcomed the initiative, expressing appreciation to the Government of Liberia, LACRA, and IITA for supporting the revival of an indigenous crop they believe can improve household incomes and strengthen local economies.

Many beneficiaries pledged to properly cultivate and maintain the seedlings to ensure maximum yields, saying they are encouraged by the government’s renewed commitment to agriculture.

The distribution follows months of intensive nursery development by LACRA.

Earlier this year, the authority began preparing approximately one million Coffee Liberica seedlings at its nursery site in Ganta, Nimba County, as part of plans to significantly increase national coffee production.

During a recent visit to the nursery by the Daily Observer, the site manager confirmed that the seedlings had matured and were ready for distribution to qualified farmers across the country.

LACRA technicians explained that the institution has adopted a strict beneficiary selection process to ensure the seedlings are distributed only to farmers genuinely committed to cultivating Coffee Liberica.

According to one technician, beneficiaries will be registered and monitored throughout the implementation period to ensure the seedlings receive proper care.

“We will register the farmers, know your farm location and ensure that the farmer actually has interest in cultivating,” the technician said, requesting anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.

The latest distribution builds on momentum generated during the 2025 National Agriculture Fair in Nimba County, where the rehabilitation and multiplication of Coffee Liberica was officially launched.

The event attracted nearly a thousand participants, many of whom sampled Liberian-grown Coffee Liberica and praised its rich taste and quality, reinforcing optimism about the crop’s commercial potential.

Agriculture experts believe the revival of Coffee Liberica could restore one of Liberia’s historic export commodities while creating new opportunities for rural employment, value addition, agro-processing, and foreign exchange generation.

With approximately 700,000 seedlings now reaching farmers in five counties, LACRA says the initiative represents more than a distribution exercise—it is the beginning of a long-term national effort to restore Liberia’s position as the home of one of the world’s finest coffee varieties and transform Coffee Liberica into a major driver of economic growth and agricultural development.