World Bank seeks to improve seed production #liberia

Liberia's staple food is rice, but the country relies heavily on imported rice to feed the over 3 million population, despite having a fertile soil, good vegetation and one of the largest virgin forest in the West African sub region. The Central Agriculture Research Institute (CARI) is an institute operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and is involved in agricultural projects aimed at assisting Liberian farmers with quality seeds and other varieties of seeds including improved methods of cultivation of rice and cassava two kids of food that are consumed in Liberia on a large scale. The institute is currently cultivating seeds for distribution to Liberian farmers with the hope of helping to produce more food, thereby making Liberia self sufficient through food production. CARI is implementing a five year project under the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Program (WAAPP), an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) initiative supported by the World Bank and the Japanese Funds. Midway into the first phase of a five year project being implemented in eight counties in including Bong, Bomi, Margibi, Gbarpolu, River Gee, Sinoe among other counties, World Bank Country Director to Liberia, Ghana and Sierra Leone during a tour of the CARI project in Bong County Tuesday expressed that the project is impressive at this initial stage of implementation. The World Bank Country Director, Yusupha B. Crookes said what is even more impressive about the WAAPP Liberia project is that it is growing new breed of specialists that will help Liberia become self sufficient in food production in the years to come. "I really must say I am quite impressed by the young specialists that I see around here and basically, I think Dr. Marshall you are growing the next generation of technologists and scientists, agriculture specialists that will have the potential to transform agricultural production in Liberia and beyond". One big thing -Productivity The World Bank Country Director said the main aim of the CARI project is increasing productivity in Liberia by transforming the livelihood of Liberian farmers through improved yields to increase their income.