Liberia is seeking closer agricultural cooperation with Nigeria’s Jigawa State as it looks to raise rice yields and reduce its growing dependence on imports, officials said.
Liberian Agriculture Minister Alexander Nuetah held talks on April 8 in Monrovia with Umar Namadi, focusing on ways to strengthen collaboration in large-scale rice production.
The discussions centred on improving food security through increased investment, technology transfer and the development of joint ventures in rice processing and distribution.
“Liberia is seeking to improve productivity by adopting best practices from Jigawa State, particularly in mechanisation, irrigation systems, and structured farmer support programmes,” Nuetah was quoted as saying by local media.
The initiative reflects Liberia’s efforts to tackle persistent challenges in its agriculture sector, where low productivity has contributed to rising food imports.
Rice is a staple food in Liberia, but domestic production has struggled to keep pace with demand, forcing the country to rely heavily on imports.
According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization, Liberia’s rice imports more than doubled between 2019 and 2023, increasing from around 285,000 tonnes to over 650,000 tonnes.
Officials say this trend has put pressure on foreign exchange reserves and exposed the country to global price fluctuations.
By contrast, Jigawa State in northern Nigeria has recorded steady gains in rice production, supported by improved farming techniques and government-backed initiatives.
The state accounts for a modest share of Nigeria’s rice cultivation area but has achieved consistent output growth in recent years.
Data from Nigeria’s agricultural research bodies show that paddy rice production in Jigawa rose by more than seven percent over five years, reaching about 218,000 tonnes in 2024, with average yields of around 1.67 tonnes per hectare.
Liberia’s output over the same period averaged about 287,000 tonnes annually, but yields were significantly lower at roughly 1.1 tonnes per hectare, highlighting the productivity gap the government aims to close.
Analysts say adopting improved seed varieties, expanding irrigation and strengthening farmer support systems could help Liberia narrow this gap and reduce reliance on imports.
The proposed partnership is expected to facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity building, with a focus on modernising farming practices and scaling up production.
Officials also see potential for private sector involvement, particularly in processing and distribution, which remain underdeveloped in Liberia’s rice value chain.
The move comes amid broader efforts by the Liberian government to enhance food security and promote agricultural self-sufficiency.
Experts caution, however, that success will depend on sustained investment, infrastructure development and policy consistency.
If effectively implemented, the collaboration with Jigawa State could mark a significant step toward improving Liberia’s agricultural productivity and reducing its vulnerability to external food supply shocks.
