Boakai, FAO Director-General Agree on New Path for Agricultural Growth
FAO Director-General Meets President Boakai, Pledges Stronger Support for Liberiaโs Agriculture Sector
Daniel Theo Cole
Executive Mansion, Monrovia: President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. today welcomed the Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Mr. Qu Dongyu, and his high-level delegation to the Executive Mansion for strategic discussions aimed at accelerating Liberiaโs agricultural transformation.
The delegation included senior FAO officials: Mr. Godfrey Magwenzi, Dr. Maximo Torero, Dr. Abebe Haile Gabriel, Mr. Yang Hau, Ms. Lineo Molise, and Mr. Hong Shen.
President Boakai expressed gratitude for FAOโs consistent partnership and reaffirmed Liberiaโs commitment to modernizing its agriculture sector. He noted that Liberia is well positioned to make the most of its fertile soils, favorable climate, and abundant natural resources, adding that the nation is now ready to โharvest what has been plantedโ through years of groundwork and planning.
FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu commended Liberiaโs renewed focus on agriculture and highlighted the countryโs unique strengths, including its globally distinctive Liberica coffee with strong export potential. He reaffirmed FAOโs readiness to expand both technical and financial assistance to Liberiaโespecially in improving value chains, strengthening farmersโ resilience, and encouraging youth participation in agriculture.
Mr. Qu also pointed to new opportunities for collaboration through Chinaโs Academy for Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS), which can offer advanced research, training, and technology to help boost productivity and innovation in Liberia.
The FAO delegation praised Liberiaโs direction and reaffirmed support for the countryโs priorities, including seeds development, climate-smart farming, and expanding market opportunities for Liberian products.
President Boakai thanked the Director-General and his team for their commitment and assured them of his governmentโs full cooperation. He emphasized that with sustained support, agriculture will become a powerful engine for economic growth and national prosperity.
