The Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) has officially concluded a two-day technical training workshop.
The workshop was to enhance quality control, warehouse inspections, and grading in cocoa, and coffee.
The event, which took placed from September 16-17, brought together regulatory inspectors, industry partners, and media representatives.
Alpha K. Gongolee, LACRA Deputy Director General for Operations and Technical Services, emphasized the importance of educating contractors on the cocoa quality chain.
The curriculum includes essential topics of mandate ethics, cocoa quality chain causal diagnosis, representative sampling, physical laboratory analysis, cut testing, lot grading, facility inspection, and traceability reporting.
The workshop provided comprehensive technical training for contractors before they are integrated into the system.
Gongloe further explained how the training was a part of LACRA’s mandate to ensure that contractors are well-prepared to meet the rigorous quality standards required for cocoa exports.
The training specifically focused on quality control measures, warehouse inspections, and grading standardization. Gongloe noted the significance of deploying trained contractors to various posts that have been vulnerable in the past, ensure that cocoa leaving the country adheres to quality standards. He said, the training aims to enhance participants’ ability to collect data for informed policy decision-making regarding the volume, and quality of cocoa exported.
“This is not only for our farmers, but for the agricultural economy as a whole.”
LACRA Director General, Christopher D. Sankolo, encouraged participants to serve with integrity, and to refrain from exploiting the system for personal gain. “Your role in this training is not just about learning; it is about serving your country, and the agricultural sector with dignity.” He expressed gratitude to them for dedicating their time to acquire essential technical knowledge that will benefit the cocoa, and coffee industries.
The training reflects LACRA’s ongoing commitment to improve agricultural standards, and practices as well as bolster the quality, and reputation of its cocoa, and coffee exports in the global market.
As the country continues to develop its agricultural sector, such initiatives are crucial to ensure sustainability, and growth in one of the key economic areas.
