In response to the rising food crisis, the government of Liberia has put into place some short, medium and long term measures to mitigate it.   President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf disclosed that her government has concluded discussions with the People’s Republic of China, Japan, India and Vietnam to continue the export of rice to Liberia despite their earlier resolve to suspend the exportation of the commodity due to the gloomy food crisis globally.

President Sirleaf also mentioned that the government has already secured ten million dollars worth of assistance from the World Bank to resuscitate the school feeding program. This program will cater to thousands of school children who do not have the means to regular meal.

Expressing her gratitude to the Ministry of Agriculture for its continuous drive to make Liberia a rice producing country, the President said part of the ten million dollars will be used to support smallholder farmers to increase production as a long and medium term measure.

The President also disclosed that ADA Commercial, a Swiss-based agriculture company has brought into the country some multi million dollars agriculture equipment to begin commercial rice production in three counties – Bong, Nimba and Lofa.

In a recent Food Security Sensitization Program held in Monrovia on June 19, 2008, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf urged Liberians to get back to the soil and grow more food such as rice, cassava, plantain and other vegetables in a bid to attain self reliance. She declared that the soil is a bank so Liberians should invest in it.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Traditional Chief Council, Zanzan Karwor has challenged government officials, particularly members of the national legislature to make good use of their agriculture break to engage in farming activities in order to increase food production in Liberia.

The primary objectives of the “Back to the Soil” sensitization program are two folds:

1.       To inform the public about the rise in food prices and efforts being made by government to mitigate it;

2.       To encourage farmers to increase local food production;

National Food Security Summit

As a precursor to the Back to the Soil Sensitization Program, a one day national food security summit was held in Gbarnga, Bong County on May 17, 2008.  Ten (10) master farmers from each of the 15 political sub-divisions attended the program.  Members of cooperative societies, commercial farmers, agricultural companies (concessions) national and international non-governmental organizations, donor groups, UN agencies, members of the national legislature, youth organizations, academic institutions and civil society groups were all at the Gbarnga summit.  At the close of the summit, a Resolution was drafted and presented at the Back to the Soil launching in Monrovia.

Outputs of the Back to the Soil Sensitization Program

1. The President of Liberia, Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf sent a clear message within in-country and to the outside world, governments actions to mitigate the rise on food prices and called on local farmers to produce more food;
2. More than 60,000 people throughout the country attended the program
3. Liberians are now eager to undertake meaningful agricultural programs and projects;
4. Women and youths (students) are encouraged to engage in farming activities
5. Government’s Back to the Soil campaign hailed by many
6. Ministry of Agriculture commences the distribution of rice seeds to the public;
7. FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture signed a US$490,000 project, titled, “Operation Eliminate Hunger”
8. More than 250,000 farmers will be trained in improved farming techniques.