Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) has thrown its huge weight behind the aggregated efforts at “Getting Rice Right” in Liberia.

The “Getting Rice Right” symposium took place in Monrovia on 25-26 September 2023 with more than 300 rice stakeholders. The symposium equally featured the launch of the 4^th Edition of the World Bank Annual Liberia Economic Update, “Getting Rice Right for Productivity and Poverty Reduction”. The report outlines the challenges confronting rice and the ways in which the country needs to prioritise the production of rice to improve food security and reduce poverty in the lives of farmers.

The symposium explored ways of driving the rice transformation process in Liberia by identifying crucial policies and strategic reforms thereby exploring innovative value chain approaches, showcasing opportunities through research, policy reforms and investments in the country’s staple food – rice.

Prof. Jalloh Abdulai, Director of Research and Innovation at AfricaRice and the TAAT Rice Compact Leader, Dr Sali Ndindeng were part of two panels respectively on “Research and development Priorities for local rice production”, and “the enabling environment for domestic rice production”. Dr Akintayo Inoussa, Dr Roger Ahoaunsou of AfricaRice and Mr Jobson Momo of CARI presented TAAT technologies ranging from improved climate resilient rice varieties, Integrated rice fish system practices, rice-based products and equipment (ASI Thresher).

Following these presentations, the Liberian Ministry of Agriculture placed orders for the supply of processing equipment to 30 rice production clusters in Liberia. The equipment list includes 15 rice threshers, 15 rice winnowers, 15 rice mills,15 rice destoners, 30 rice parboilers, 60 drying tarpaulins, 60 rakes and 60 washing basins for parboiling. The equipment supply will be coupled with training of 1000 value actors on their operation and maintenance as well as for the production of quality rice.