Agriculture Ministry, Mainland Group Partner to Support Smallholder Farmers in Rubber Production
Grand Bassa County, Liberia – June 2026 — The Ministry of Agriculture and Mainland Group are to foster a strategic partnership to empower smallholder farmers to establish and possess rubber plantations. This initiative is part of a proposed investment totaling US$36 million, which is anticipated to significantly transform Liberia's rubber industry.
The initiative was highlighted during a visit to Menowan Town, Wee District, by Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah and Mainland Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Zhu Chen, marking a follow-up to the company's announcement of its intention to invest in Liberia's rubber industry.
At the heart of the proposed investment is a commitment to support Liberian farmers to become owners and direct beneficiaries of rubber production.
Speaking during the engagement, Minister Nuetah said the Ministry is determined to move beyond the traditional concession model and create opportunities for farmers and communities to build wealth through ownership.
"For a long time, concessions came, established plantations, and hired our people to work for them," the Minister said. "But we believe there is a better way. We want everybody to win in this new investment modality."
"We want companies to support you individually to grow your own rubber," he added. "We want Liberians to own the rubber plantations and make the money for themselves."
Under the proposed arrangement, the Ministry of Agriculture and Mainland Group will develop a framework to support smallholder farmers over the next five years by providing improved planting materials, technical assistance, and other support needed to establish and manage rubber plantations.
The initiative will begin with selected communities and gradually expand to other parts of the country as more farmers join the program.
Minister Nuetah said successful experiences inspire the approach in countries such as Côte d'Ivoire, where hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers own rubber farms and supply thriving processing industries.
"In Liberia, large concessions own most of the rubber plantations. We want to change that," he said. "We want Liberians to become owners, entrepreneurs, and suppliers to industries that process rubber here at home."
For his part, Mainland Group CEO Mr. Zhu said the company's decision to invest in Liberia was largely inspired by the Minister's vision for farmer empowerment.
"We operate five rubber factories in Côte d'Ivoire and work with hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers," he said. "The Minister shared his dream that Liberian farmers and communities should own and grow their own rubber, and that is one of the main reasons I am here."
He said Mainland Group has already begun discussions with the Ministry on the implementation framework and expressed optimism about the future of Liberia's rubber industry.
"Mainland Group is not the biggest company in the world, but we will do our best," he said. "Our hope is that, little by little and year by year, communities across Liberia and farmers throughout the country will own and manage their own rubber plantations."
The company plans to focus its initial investment on supporting farmers to build a strong production base over the next five years. Once production reaches a sustainable level sufficient to meet industrial demand, Mainland Group intends to establish a rubber processing factory in Grand Bassa County.
The factory is expected to create jobs, add value to locally produced rubber, and open new market opportunities for Liberian farmers.
The Grand Bassa engagement follows Minister Nuetah's official visit to Cambodia last month, during which he held discussions with government officials and private-sector actors on agricultural transformation, value addition, and export-led growth.
The proposed partnership reflects the Government’s commitment to empowering smallholder farmers, promoting value addition, and ensuring that Liberians are not merely workers in the agricultural sector but owners and beneficiaries of its growth and transformation.
