Food and Agricultural Policy and Strategy- "From Subsistence to Sufficiency".

The aim of this Policy is to move the country from subsistence to sufficiency. The programme identifies that the country's agricultural sector is dominated by traditional subsistence farming systems mainly in the uplands, and characterized by labor intensity, shifting cultivation, low technologies and productivity. Although rice, cassava and vegetables production accounts for about 87% of cultivated land, the output of the staple foods remains below national requirements. It also identifies that current livestock population is below 10% of national consumption requirement while the fisheries subsector is underdeveloped with only about 6.8% of sustainable yield harvested annually.
The Policy identifies some key challenges, including: Increasing productivity and incomes of Liberia’s subsistence farmers, by transforming them into commercial farmers through the adoption of new techniques and technologies, improving access to seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs, diversifying their enterprises and strengthening linkages to output markets; Restoring value chains and increasing community and private sector participation in supply and value chains; Ensuring access, both physically and economically, of the population to nutritious food, by rebuilding farm-to-market roads and enhancing incomes generation; Reforming the MOA and building its capacity for effective and efficient performance of its functions, particularly in the areas of policy and planning, coordination and regulation, and resource mobilization and leadership; Strengthening key agricultural institutions that were damaged or destroyed during the civil conflict; Slowing the extent of illegal fishing, increasing the value added from catches and maximizing sustainable yield; Enhancing the enabling environment for agriculture sector growth and development including increased private sector investment with interventions such as land reforms that will allow for longer term planning, and stable, sustained engagement in the sector; Slowing deforestation, slash-and-burn cultivation, and tree cutting for firewood and charcoal, which degrade habitats and deplete natural resources; Providing greater opportunities for women and youth in agriculture, especially the formal sector; and Responding to the impact of the world food crises on Liberia, including providing food assistance to vulnerable households, and increasing domestic food production and cushioning the effects of the global financial crises on agricultural exports by adopting appropriate macroeconomic stances. The Policy envisions a nation that is peaceful, secured and prosperous, with democratic and accountable governance based on the rule of law, and abundant economic opportunities for all Liberians (PRS 2008 derivative). On the other hand, the Policy objectives is to revitalize and modernize food and agriculture sector that is contributing to shared, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development of Liberia by; Making safe and nutritious foods available in sufficient quantity and quality at all times to satisfy the nutritional needs of all Liberians; Ensuring inclusive and pro-poor growth in agricultural production, productivity, competitiveness, value addition and diversification, and linkages to markets; and Building effective and efficient human and institutional capacities of stakeholders to plan, deliver services, invest, and monitor activities , while concurrently sustaining natural resources , mitigating risks to producers and mainstreaming gender and youth considerations. The Policy proposes separate strategies for achieving each objective. The Policy further proposes the improvement of other support services to food and agriculture, including extension and advisory services, agricultural education and training, agro-business and market development, agricultural research and development, improving production services like seeds, fertilizer, pest and disease control, etc. The Policy also emphasizes on social development with a focus on gender issues, youths and vulnerable groups.