By Emmanuel Koffa
Government has placed renewed focus on agricultural development in the Southeast, with plans to expand coconut farming as a key economic opportunity in the region.
As part of the effort, Agriculture Minister, Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, and delegation arrived in Barclayville on Thursday, March 12, 2026, on an official tour.
The tour aimed to promote agricultural growth and engage farmers on the essence of coconut cultivation.
The visit comes amid government plans to establish coconut seed gardens in River Cess, Sinoe, Maryland and Grand Kru counties.
Under the initiative, approximately 10 acres of government land in each of the four counties will be used to develop seed gardens that will produce improved coconut seedlings for distribution to farmers.
Officials say the seedlings will be provided ‘free of charge’ once the trees begin producing, ensuring that farmers in the region can expand coconut cultivation without the burden of purchasing planting materials.
The project will begin with seedlings from River Cess County, where the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) has already established a dwarf coconut nursery.
These seedlings will first be transported to Sinoe County to establish the initial seed garden before the program expands to other counties, including Grand Kru.
During the visit, Nuetah also discussed with farmers, and agricultural stakeholders on ways to strengthen food production and improve value addition for crops such as cassava and rice.
The initiative forms part of the government’s broader agricultural development strategy under the Liberians Feed Yourselves Agenda, which aims to increase domestic food production while creating sustainable income opportunities for rural communities.