The expected jobs would come through the pending coffee revival program.
By that, government has intensified efforts to position young people at the center of a nationwide coffee revival initiative.
The initiative is expected to create more than 300,000 ‘new jobs’ and transform the agricultural sector over the next two decades.
The disclosure was made to more than 150 youths from Bong, Nimba, and Lofa counties that gathered in Gbarnga, Bong County, on Tuesday, June 9.
They gathering brought together participants under the Youth and Farmers Engagement Forum to prepare a new generation of agripreneurs, farmers, and business leaders to participate in the ambitious program. The forum brought together youth leaders, local authorities, farmers, development partners and representatives of JR Farms Group.
The JR Farms Group, is a company that recently signed a 20-year partnership agreement with the government to revitalize the coffee industry through investments exceeding US$60 million.
Discussions focused on opportunities in coffee production, agribusiness development, processing, marketing, and value addition.
Organizers also sought to identify young entrepreneurs already involved in agriculture, who can benefit from training and future partnerships, including local seed multiplication initiatives.
Moses R. Gbanyan, Deputy Agriculture Minister for Regional Development, Research and Extension said, agriculture remains central to the country’s economic transformation agenda.
Gbanyan informed the gathering that government is determined to reduce dependence on imported goods, while creating sustainable opportunities for farmers, youth, and rural communities. “For far too long, Liberia has depended heavily on imports while vast agricultural opportunities remain underutilized. We must transform agriculture into a modern, competitive, and profitable sector capable of creating wealth and improving livelihoods.”
The coffee initiative is expected to benefit more than 200,000 farmers through the development of over 250,000 hectares of coffee plantations nationwide.
It is projected to generate employment, strengthen rural economies, increase agricultural productivity and expand export earnings.
Mr. Gbanyan then encouraged young people to view agriculture beyond traditional farming.
He described it as a modern sector offering opportunities in technology, mechanization, logistics, processing, marketing, financial services and international trade.
The engagement forms part of ongoing consultations between the government and JR Farms Group as preparations continue for one of the largest agricultural investment initiatives in recent history.