The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has approved the financing of the Emergency Food Production Program in Liberia, with an amount of $5.12 million.
In its statement released on Thursday, the AfDB explains that this financing will allow the government to help farmers increase their production of climate-resilient foodstuffs, thus mitigating the impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine. The amount is made up of a $2.28 million grant and a $2.84 million loan from its Transition Support Facility.
The paper notes that agriculture is a major sector of Liberia’s economy, contributing about 26% to GDP; with the main crops being rubber, rice, cassava, bananas and palm oil.
However, agricultural productivity is generally low; a situation resulting from the weakness of basic infrastructure, the lack of agricultural equipment and the lack of roads between farms and markets. The limited use of fertilizers and pesticides, as well as insufficient food storage capacity, not to mention the civil war (1989-2003) and the Ebola epidemic (2014-2015) experienced by the country , are all challenges that have impacted the agricultural sector.
Nearly 50% of Liberia’s population is considered food insecure, and child malnutrition is persistent. Some 35% of children under 5 are stunted and 15% are underweight.
Liberia’s program, which will run from 2022 to 2024, will enable the government to provide vulnerable farmers with direct smart subsidies in the form of incentives for private investment in the input sector without distorting the market. This funding will also enable the government to facilitate farmers’ access to improved seeds and fertilizers.
“We welcome this much-anticipated and timely approval, as it will improve food and nutrition security in Liberia as well as the regulatory environment for climate-smart agriculture,” the head of office said. -ADB country in Liberia, Benedict Kanu.
He added, “With healthy Liberians arguably the greatest asset the country has, there is hardly a more urgent priority than tackling food insecurity to meet caloric and nutrient needs. Liberians and protect their human development”.
The food production program in Liberia, in the form of sector budget support, is part of the AfDB’s African Emergency Food Production Facility (AEFPF).
The AEFPF has already benefited 26 African countries with 26 programs worth $1.257 billion.
By OMA Newsletter N° 951 of 25/11/2022
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
