The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), has begun a multi-stakeholders’ dialogue on incentives for rice production with emphasis on value chain.
The rice farmers and stakeholders’ dialogue began on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, outside Monrovia.
Deputy Agriculture Minister for Planning and Development, David K. Akoi, said the dialogue on incentives for rice value chain is government’s initiative to bring farmers, particular rice farmers, together to brainstorm on ways and means that will ensure that the country is self-fed.
Akoi called on participants at the two days dialogue to share their perspectives, insights and challenges in rice production.
“Over the next two days, we will be exploring on key challenges and opportunities that exist in the rice value chain,” he said.
He spoke of recommendations from the farmers to be submitted to a committee at the MoA for smooth implementation.
Mr. Akoi then encouraged participants to remain bold and opened as they discuss local rice sector to better the industry.
He expressed gratitude to foreign and local partners for their continued supports.
United Nations Resident Coordinator, Madam Christine Umutoni, thanked the MoA for the dialogue on rice incentive.
Madam Umutoni said rice serves as a sample of national identity, and that the dialogue was pivotal to improve the sector.
She called on the government to transform the rice sector by supporting private sector, investing in rice farmers.
She wants the transformation of the sector to be built on transparency and accountability, and also provides partnership for incentives. Some of the key areas discussed, included findings of the MoA assessment report on incentives for private sector investment towards understanding of priority incentives for rice value chain development, co-defining shared roadmap- guiding principles and governance structures. The dialogue brought together farmers from the 15 counties, county agriculture coordinators, regional coordinators, agriculture partners, including the Food and Agriculture Organizations (FAO), the International Fund for Agriculture Development, the Ministry of Finance, the National Rice Federation of Liberia any many more.