Monrovia, Liberia – Liberia’s Minister of Agriculture Alexander Nuetah has praised local farmers and agro-processors for showcasing Liberian-made products at a recent Farmers Market Day program describing the initiative as a key pathway toward strengthening the country’s economy and boosting exports.
Speaking during an interview at the event, Minister Nuetah expressed excitement over the quality of locally processed goods on display, noting that the market provides an important platform for farmers and value-added businesses.
“I’m happy to see our farmers and those who are into value addition trading produce that is made in Liberia and packaged in Liberia,” the Minister said. “This is my first time attending this market, but from what I see, I encourage Liberians to come and patronize our farmers and support those selling products produced right here in Liberia.”
The Minister also commended international partners for supporting agricultural development initiatives in the country. While acknowledging support from the Swedish Embassy through agricultural programs and infrastructure development initiatives, the Minister assured Liberians that the government remains committed to sustaining the project even after donor support ends.
“We want to thank them for all the initiatives,” the Minister stated. “Even if they left today, the government, given the significance of this initiative to Liberia’s economy, will continue to support it. We will ensure our farmers and agro-processors continue to have a platform to showcase their work.”
According to the Minister, the long-term goal is to move beyond local sales and position Liberian-made products for export to regional and international markets.
“As I walked around, what came to my mind was scaling up,” the Minister explained. “We want to see these products exported from Liberia. It is not enough for them to only be sold on the local market. We should be proud to see Liberian products being shipped to neighboring countries and beyond.”
The Minister further encouraged producers in similar value chains, including honey producers and small agro-processors, to organize themselves into cooperatives and larger business groups that can aggregate products in larger quantities for export opportunities.
“This is symbolic of what we want to see in the Liberian economy,” the Minister added. “When producers come together and create volume, they can become export-ready and contribute more meaningfully to national economic growth.”
Farmers Market Day is an event organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization under its Grow Liberia project in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and with funding from the Swedish Embassy in Monrovia.
The event, held every first Friday, brings together local farmers, agribusiness owners, shoppers, and stakeholders from diverse locations at the invincible park.