Liberia

Seed sector in Liberia

Within the past decade, Liberia’s Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) improved its plans and strategies for regenerating the seed sector through several pathways: the Lift Liberia Interim Poverty Reductions Strategy (2008); the Food and Agriculture Policy and Strategy (2009); the Food Security and Nutrition Strategy (2008); and the Liberia Agriculture Sector Investment Program (2009–2010). All underpin the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Program compact signed in 2009.

The Government of Liberia, through the MOA, has adopted a set of seed regulations that was prepared in 2012. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) C/REG.4/05/2008 has served as a guide for drafting Liberia’s seed regulations, including the upcoming creation of a seed board. Currently, Liberia has no plant variety protection law.

As a member state of government institutions, there are farmer organizations, community-based organizations, cooperatives and private companies involved in the seed sector.

Liberian cooperatives are among the few in the region with a broad portfolio that includes vegetable seeds, and they have long been among the chief sources of farmers’ empowerment. They have played critical roles in providing farmers with access to finance, seeds, tools, marketing, transportation and storage, and they also represent farmers’ interests at the national level. Currently, there are 75 to 80 seed-producing cooperatives in Liberia.

Observations

There are four index companies in Liberia with sales, but none in the index carries out seed production, testing, breeding, processing or extension services.