Liberia: Agriculture Minister Holds High-Level Talks with FAO Director-General on Agricultural Investment

Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah has held high-level discussions with the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Dr. QU Dongyu, in Rome, seeking to strengthen cooperation in mobilizing more than US$300 million in agricultural investments, revitalizing the country’s Liberica coffee industry, and expanding mechanization services nationwide.

Minister Nuetah, who is leading a high-level Liberian delegation to the 2026 World Food Forum, held the discussions at FAO headquarters on the sidelines of the gathering, which runs from October 8–16 under the theme “Innovate Today. Nourish Tomorrow.”

The engagement focused on translating Liberia’s agricultural priorities into investment opportunities, expanding access to international markets, and strengthening partnerships to accelerate agricultural transformation.

Central to the discussions was Liberia’s agricultural investment portfolio, scheduled for presentation on October 14 under FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative. The portfolio seeks to attract more than US$300 million in financing for priority agricultural investments.

Minister Nuetah emphasized the need for credible investors who can support the country’s agricultural transformation beyond primary production, particularly through investments in processing, value addition, post-harvest management, and market development.

Dr. QU welcomed the investment ambitions and highlighted opportunities to facilitate connections with development finance institutions and private investors through FAO’s Investment Center and international partnerships.

Beyond investment mobilization, the discussions also focused on efforts to revive the country’s Liberica coffee industry and position it as a competitive player in the international coffee market.

Recalling the FAO Director-General’s visit to Liberia, during which the One Country, One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative was launched with the symbolic planting of a Liberica coffee tree at the Ministry of Agriculture, Minister Nuetah emphasized the importance of building on that partnership.

He requested additional support beyond the existing Technical Cooperation Program (TCP) to expand coffee production, strengthen the supply of quality seedlings, improve processing capacity, and promote Liberica coffee as a distinctive international brand.

Dr. QU highlighted opportunities to establish commercial partnerships with leading European coffee companies, including Illy and Lavazza, while exploring potential markets in China. Such partnerships could create opportunities for contract farming, processing investments, and reliable market access for Liberian smallholder farmers.

Agricultural mechanization also featured prominently in the discussions, with Minister Nuetah requesting FAO support for a proposed US$1.5 million South-South Cooperation initiative to expand mechanization services across the country.

He outlined the Government’s mechanization service-center model, under which farmers access agricultural machinery at subsidized rates without bearing the burden of equipment ownership and maintenance.

With over three hundred pieces of agricultural equipment received through cooperation with China and mechanization hubs established in six counties, the Government is seeking additional technical assistance to extend services to the remaining nine counties.

Dr. QU welcomed the approach, citing China’s experience with professionally managed mechanization services, and proposed exploring technical cooperation to train young Liberians in machinery operation, maintenance, and service-center management.

Minister Nuetah expressed appreciation for FAO’s continued support, particularly its contributions to the country’s agricultural investment agenda and coffee development initiatives.

He also welcomed progress toward deploying a new FAO Country Representative to Liberia, whose appointment has received the Government’s clearance.

The engagement underscores the Ministry of Agriculture’s commitment to leveraging international partnerships and investment to increase agricultural productivity, create employment opportunities, strengthen food security, and improve livelihoods across Liberia.