The Head of Delegation and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the European Union to Liberia, Laurent Delahousse has pledged the European Union commitment to supporting the Agriculture sector of Liberia stressing that doing so will help reduce the menace the government is going through to import rice and other commodities into the country.
Speaking at the just concluded National Agriculture Fair held at the Central Agriculture Research Institute (CARI) in Suacoco, Bong County, the top European diplomat, recounted that the EU has a long-standing partnership with Liberia dating back to 1973 when Liberia exported Agriculture produce and that organization was ready to embark on the journey of development and prosperity in the entire Nation. He further said that besides its support to the agriculture sector, the EU has also extended its hand to other sectors under the other Ministries and agencies of government including the Ministries of Education and Transportation, among others.
He further revealed that for the agriculture sector to work, the EU and its development partners will be heavily involved in the value chain especially in both staple and cash crops in the Country.
Touching on long term support to Liberia, Ambassador Delahousse disclosed a program that will cover the period 2021 to 2027 and that they are ready to assist the President George Weah led government fully with a proposal in a slight different approach of engagement. He stated that the member states of the EU and other development actors in Europe such as the European Investment Bank (EIB) have agreed to share said vision to pump more resources to support the government and its citizens through what they referred to as “Team European Initiatives”.
He said the Team European Initiatives is aimed at capitalizing country’s the natural resources, which is one of Liberia’s strength, adding that they are keen to partnering with the Government of Liberia in two particular areas, that is save sustainable food system and sustainable Forestry and biodiversity cultivation. The Ambassador whose remarks drew applauses from the participants at the program explained that under the Save sustainable food system, the EU and its partners will place the value chain system approach at the center stage by recognizing every single component including production marketing, processing, and distribution, among others.