GOL, JICA Launch LibRICE Project

By Rancy S. Teewia

As Liberia continues to struggle in producing her own stable food since independence, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) have laughed the “LibRICE” rice to improve the production of rice for smallholder project on Monday, May 31, 2021 at the Ministry of Agriculture, Monrovia

Earlier, on January 7, 2021, JICA signed a Record of Discussion with the Government of the Republic of Liberia in for the LibRICE project.

Speaking at the ceremony, JICA Representative Maki Ozawa said the LibRICE which is a four-year agricultural intervention is to empower smallholder farmers, aims to increase the rice yield in Bong County, which she described as one of the foremost counties for domestic rice production in Liberia.

She said the LibRice project will help improve rice cultivation techniques, disseminate improved rice cultivation techniques, empower the capacity of participating farmer groups for conducting group activities, and enhance the monitoring and elevation of the capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The JICA Representative noted that rice consumption per capita in Liberia, where rice is a staple food, is one of the highest in the world.

“However, rice yield in the country has been low over a long period, averaging 1.3 ton/ha, and 60% of the domestic consumption depends on imported rice. In the Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development, which is a mid-term development plan of the current government, an increase of domestic rice production is an important strategic activity from the viewpoint of food security and empowerment production,” JICA Representative Ozawa asserted.

Madam Ozawa noted that the LibRICE project, will help develop and disseminate rice cultivation techniques suitable for Liberia, and ultimately contribute to the achievement of the Government`s Pro-poor Agenda as well as the Goal 2 of the sustainable development Goals.

She at the same time stressed that Liberia is one of the participating countries in this Coalition for African Rice Development (CARD) initiative for rice development led by Japan adding that the LibRice project will also contribute to the achievement of the target of CARD phase 2, which is aimed at doubling Africa’s rice production.

She also recalled that the Japan International Cooperation Agency has a long history of cooperation with Liberia. She noted that in 1976, JICA started accepting Liberian personnel for training in Japan. “Subsequently, JICA implemented technical cooperation including dispatch of Japan Overseas Cooperation (JOCV) and grant aid. In June 2007, after 18 years of absence due to civil war unrest in the country, JICA resumed its cooperation with Liberia, and in January 2009, JICA opened its first office to enhance bilateral assistance to Liberia. Japan is committed to contributing to the growth and development of Liberia; Ozawa recorded.

Meanwhile, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Liberia (GOL), the Minister of Agriculture Dr. Jeannie Milly Cooper has expressed gratitude to Japan International Cooperation Agency and people of Japan for their consistent contribution to the Government of Liberia and its people.

The Agriculture boss urged the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for Liberians to have full involvement in the four-year LibRice production project, in order for Librarians to learn how to produce rice through technology and other mechanized processes.

Giving the background of the project, Mr. Emmanuel D. Williams, Extension officer of the Ministry of Agriculture said it was during the Administration of Dr. Mogana Flomo when the MOA decided to tour across the 15 Counties starting from March 3, 2019, to collect data in order to understand how to produce the country’s staple food, asserting that after the tour the information data that was collected identified Bong County for the production of rice. And later the Ministry decided to reach out to the Japan International Cooperation Agency for assistance.

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