Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme is funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) to increase agricultural productivity in Africa through the deployment of proven and high performance agricultural technologies.
Information
IITA – Bénin Campus, 08 BP 0932 Tri Postal, Cotonou – République du Bénin
Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme is funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) to increase agricultural productivity in Africa through the deployment of proven and high performance agricultural technologies.
Information
IITA – Bénin Campus, 08 BP 0932 Tri Postal, Cotonou – République du Bénin
Cultivating Resilience: Liberia Mobilises Strategic Investment for National Seed Sector Transformation
Hon Mamaka Bility, Minister without Portfolio in the Presidency, representing the President of Liberia at the roundtable. (PHOTO: TAAT/Atayi OPALUWAH)
In a strategic move to fortify national food security and accelerate agricultural productivity, the Government of Liberia, in collaboration with the African Development Bank‘s Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) and the CGIAR Scaling for Impact Programme,convened the Liberia Seed Sector Investment Roundtable on April 30, 2026.
Under the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Office of the President, the forum united international donors, financial institutions, and private sector leaders to bridge the investment gap in Liberia’s foundational agricultural systems.
The high-level gathering comes at a critical juncture as Africa faces mounting food security pressures from climate change and global supply chain disruptions. Participants reached a consensus: a robust, market-driven seed system is the “missing link” required to unlock the potential of the National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP).
A Vision for 2030: The Seed Roadmap
The roundtable served as a formal launchpad for Liberia’s Seed Roadmap and Investment Plan (2025–2030). This strategic framework focuses on five priority value chains essential for the nation’s economy and nutrition:
Rice: Reducing import dependency through high-yield varieties.
Cassava: Scaling planting material systems for industrial and food use.
Maize & Soybean: Supporting the burgeoning poultry and livestock sectors.
Aquaculture: Developing hatchery systems and high-quality fish fingerlings.
Hon. Alexander Nuetah, Minister of Agriculture, emphasised that the roadmap is not merely a policy document but an investment-ready blueprint designed to foster Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and leverage blended finance.
Institutional Progress: A Solid Foundation
The Roundtable highlighted significant strides already made by the Liberian government to de-risk the sector for investors, including:
Regulatory Reform: The operationalisation of the Seed Development and Certification Agency (SDCA).
Regional Alignment: Implementation of ECOWAS-aligned seed certification and quality assurance frameworks.
Infrastructure: The establishment of functional seed testing laboratories to eliminate counterfeit products.
“A functional seed system is the cornerstone of resilience. By aligning our national policies with regional ECOWAS frameworks, we are opening the door for cross-border trade and sustainable agro-industrial growth,” Dr Nuetah declared.
Development Partners led by the EU at the Liberia Seed Investment Roundatable (PHOTO: TAAT/Atayi OPALUWAH)
Global Partners Step Up Commitments
The event saw a surge of support from major development and financial partners, each pledging technical and financial resources to ensure the roadmap’s success:
Partner
Key Commitment Areas
European Union
Support for the Seed4Liberia program focusing on cassava, rice, and fisheries.
African Development Bank
Integration of seed sector strengthening through the REWARD and Agro-Industrial Processing programs.
JICA (Japan)
Technical assistance for irrigated rice production and “Blue Economy” aquaculture initiatives.
IFAD
Continued scaling of quality certified seeds in collaboration with the SDCA.
Liberian Bank for Development & Investment (LBDI)
Development of a de-risking credit facility with flexible, long-term financing for farmers.
IITA & AfricaRice
Technical leadership in variety testing, early generation seed (EGS) production, and capacity building.
The Path Forward: 2026–2030 Priority Actions
To translate dialogue into impact, the Roundtable adopted a rigorous set of priority actions for the next four years:
Scaling Production: Expanding certified seed capacity to meet rising national demand.
Private Sector Growth: Providing technical and regulatory facilitation for local seed companies.
Last-Mile Delivery: Strengthening distribution networks to ensure seeds reach smallholder farmers in remote areas.
Digital Traceability: Implementing platforms to track seed quality and distribution.
Accountability and Next Steps
The Ministry of Agriculture, supported by the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme, will lead a new National Seed Sector Partnership Coordination Roundtable. This platform will host periodic technical sessions to monitor investment commitments and ensure a seamless transition from policy to field-level results.
As the meeting concluded in Monrovia, the atmosphere was one of calculated optimism. By securing the “starting point” of the agricultural value chain—the seed—Liberia is positioning itself to reduce poverty, curb stunting, and build a competitive, self-reliant agricultural sector for the future.
IITA – Bénin Campus, 08 BP 0932 Tri Postal, Cotonou – République du Bénin
@Taat_Africa
TAAT Africa
@taatafrica
