By: Samuel Flomo, Jr.
Mounting frustration is brewing within Liberia’s rubber sector as the National Rubber Brokers and Farmers Union of Liberia (NARBFUL) has openly challenged Executive Order #151, describing it as a policy that is placing unbearable strain on smallholder farmers and brokers across the country.
The Vice President for Administration of NARBFUL, Stanley J. Sayewolo Sr., has made it clear that while the government claims the order is meant to promote value addition and local processing, the reality on the ground tells a different story.
Executive Order #151, signed by President Joseph N. Boakai on August 1, 2025, restricts the export of unprocessed rubber in an effort to strengthen domestic processing industries.
However, according to NARBFUL, the move has left thousands of small-scale farmers uncertain about their livelihoods.
Sayewolo stressed that the Union does not believe the order reflects the interests of smallholder farmers, many of whom lack access to processing facilities, financial support, and the technical capacity needed to comply with the new restrictions.
“How do you restrict exports when there is no adequate local structure to absorb production?” Sayewolo have asked, echoing concerns raised within the sector.
NARBFUL said it has been lobbying the National Legislature to revisit the decision, arguing that policies affecting thousands of rural farmers should be backed by broad consultation and practical support systems.
The Union leader disclosed that high-level meetings are ongoing between NARBFUL, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the World Bank in an attempt to address the growing concerns.
While he expressed hope that 2026 could bring tangible relief for rubber farmers and brokers, many within the sector say promises alone will not resolve the immediate challenges.
Rubber remains a lifeline for rural economies across Liberia, as critics have warned that without transitional safeguards and meaningful investment in processing infrastructure, Executive Order #151 risks deepening hardship rather than driving development.
As debates intensify, smallholder farmers are demanding clarity, inclusion, and urgent intervention—warning that any national economic reform must begin with protecting the very citizens who keep the sector alive.