Published: September 5, 2025
Monrovia – The Government of Liberia has begun disbursing funds to 500 smallholder farmers across eight counties under its Public Sector Investment Project (PSIP), a US$4 million agriculture program that officials say marks a turning point in the country’s struggle for food self-sufficiency.
The initiative, launched through the Ministry of Agriculture, will support the cultivation of rice, cassava, maize, and tree crops such as oranges, avocados, and coconuts. The centerpiece is a 1,000-hectare lowland rice program in Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Margibi, Lofa, Montserrado, and Nimba Counties.
Each participating farmer will receive US$1,000 per hectare, structured to encourage performance and accountability. Sixty percent (60%) is disbursed upfront as direct cash support for land clearing, nursery development, and layout, while the remaining 40 percent is released later for weeding and harvesting. Alongside the cash transfers, farmers will receive improved seed rice, fertilizer, pesticides, and other inputs.
Deputy Minister for Regional Development, Research and Extension, Moses Gbayan, described the move as unprecedented.
“This is the very first time in Liberia’s history that farmers are receiving direct compensation of this kind,” Gbayan said. “But let it be clear: if you do not complete the work, you will be compelled to repay the money. The rice you grow this year will feed you and your families next year.”
Assistant Minister for Administration, Folton Blasin, said the program goes beyond inputs, calling it a “pathway to dignity” for rural families long dependent on rudimentary tools.
“For too long, you have labored with cutlasses and hoes. Today, we are supporting 500 farmers to cultivate 1,000 hectares of lowland rice. Liberia must reduce its dependence on imported rice, much of which expires before it even reaches our markets,” Blasin said.
Deputy Minister for Administration, Antoinette Dukuly, stressed accountability.
“Do not divert this money to pay school fees or buy motorbikes,” she warned farmers. “We will monitor your progress step by step. Help the government to help you improve your lives.”
The government insists that transparency will be central to the program. Payments are tied to milestones, and extension officers are expected to monitor fieldwork to ensure funds are not misused.
For beneficiaries like Annie Doeyee, a rice farmer in Todee District, Montserrado County, the support comes at the right time. She cultivates five hectares of swamp land and says clearing stumps and palm trees has always been her greatest challenge.
“This is the first time the government has helped us in the swamp. We appreciate it,” Doeyee said.
Aaron Davies, a father of ten from Sanoyea District, Bong County, who works two hectares of rice, said the assistance will help him cut down his family’s reliance on imported food.
“When I farm, I won’t need to buy imported rice. I can grow my own food, and it’s healthier too,” he said.
Liberia spends an estimated US$200 million annually on rice imports, according to official figures, making the crop both an economic and political commodity. The country has struggled to revive its once-thriving agricultural sector, weakened by years of conflict, poor infrastructure, and limited access to credit.
The PSIP allocation for agriculture in FY2025 is seen as part of the Boakai administration’s broader effort to revamp rural livelihoods under its ARREST agenda. By targeting smallholder farmers with both cash and inputs, the government says it hopes to stimulate local production, reduce the import bill, and strengthen food security.
Still, questions remain about long-term sustainability. Experts have previously cautioned that cash disbursements alone may not resolve deeper structural issues, such as storage facilities, processing capacity, and market linkages. The Ministry of Agriculture has promised that the PSIP will address some of these gaps through follow-up interventions.
For now, officials insist the program represents a historic shift in agricultural financing.
“This is not a handout,” said Deputy Minister Gbayan. “This is a partnership between the government and its farmers. The success of this program will be measured in the harvest.”
With disbursements expected to be completed by the end of the week, the farmers’ performance in the coming months will determine whether Liberia can inch closer to breaking its dependence on imported rice, a goal that has eluded successive administrations for decades.
Discussion about this post