Agriculture Minister Nuetah Rallies Rivercess to Grow More Food and Unlock Coconut Potential!
minister's tour
Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah has called on residents of Rivercess County to take advantage of the county’s fertile land and embrace agriculture as a pathway to food self-sufficiency and economic growth.
Speaking during a community engagement in Cestos City with farmers and local leaders as part of his nationwide county tour, the Minister stressed that Liberia must reduce its reliance on imported food and grow more of what it eats.
“The purpose of our plan is to ensure that Liberians grow more of what we eat and feed ourselves,” Dr. Nuetah said. “When we depend on other countries to feed us, we become poorer because the money that should be used to build our homes and develop our country is instead spent on importing food.”
As part of the government’s commitment to increasing rice production, the Minister announced support for the cultivation of 100 hectares of lowland rice in Rivercess as a starter project. The initiative aims to expand rice production while creating new economic opportunities for local communities.
Rivercess is a county where many young people are currently engaged in artisanal mining. The Ministry believes expanding agricultural production, particularly lowland rice farming and tree crops, can create sustainable livelihoods for youth while strengthening Liberia’s food security.
Meanwhile, Rivercess County Senator Wellington Geevon Smith highlighted the county’s enormous potential in the coconut sector, calling for greater support to help unlock its economic value.
“Unlike other counties that benefit from concessions and major economic activities, Rivercess currently has very few sources of income for our people. We believe agriculture—especially coconut production—can change that,” Senator Smith said.
During the visit, Minister Nuetah also toured several farms and processing sites, where he interacted with farmers and encouraged them to increase production while assuring them of the Ministry’s support
Rice. Coconut. Cassava. Fisheries.
Liberia’s agricultural transformation is underway—and Rivercess is ready to play its part
