Monrovia-The Ministry of Agriculture has launched the harvesting of 100 acres of locally cultivated rice in Bong County, in a move expected to contribute to domestic rice production and reduce Liberia’s dependence on imported rice.
The harvest took place at Kpatawee in Bong County, where Gbedin Agro-Business Incorporated is expected to produce approximately 120 metric tons of rice from the cultivated land.
The company, which began cultivating the 100-acre farm in June 2026, is also planning to expand its operations to 1,500 acres as part of efforts to increase local rice production.
Launching the initiative, Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah encouraged Liberians, particularly farmers and young people, to return to agriculture and take advantage of the government’s support to increase food production.
He urged farmers to identify available land for cultivation, assuring them that the Ministry of Agriculture is prepared to provide support to those willing to engage in farming.
“Get back to the soil. Let us scale up production. Find the fields, and the Ministry will support you to cultivate them,” Nuetah said.
He also called on farmers to make use of agricultural machinery provided by the government, stressing that increased local production is important to ensuring that Liberia can feed itself.
The rice harvest comes a day after President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. presided over the handover of more than 300 pieces of agricultural machinery and equipment donated by the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, it supported the Gbedin Agro-Business project with fertilizers and agrochemicals and deployed a combine harvester to assist with the harvesting process.
The use of the combine harvester is expected to reduce the burden and cost associated with manual harvesting.
Gbedin Agro-Business Incorporated is also preparing to introduce a locally produced rice brand called Kpatawee Rice, which the company hopes will contribute to the availability of locally grown rice on the Liberian market.
The company currently operates a 250-acre lowland rice farm in Gbedi, Nimba County, and is seeking to expand its production capacity.
Project Manager Harry Kerkula encouraged other farmers and agribusinesses to invest in local rice production, saying increased participation in the sector could help supply the country with locally grown rice.
“We want to encourage farmers in this country to get into local rice production, at least to help supply the country with locally grown rice,” Kerkula said.
He disclosed that the company intends to increase its cultivated land to 1,500 acres but noted that the expansion would depend on access to additional machinery and processing equipment.
Kerkula said the company currently has three tractors but would need more equipment, including tractors, power tillers and rice-processing machines capable of processing at least 10 metric tons of rice daily.
“We have the strength if we get the equipment. We have three tractors already,” he said.
The planned expansion is expected to increase the company’s production capacity and contribute to efforts aimed at strengthening Liberia’s agricultural sector.
Liberia continues to depend heavily on imported rice, making increased local production an important part of national efforts to improve food security and reduce the country’s import bill.
However, the success of the proposed expansion will depend on the availability of the necessary equipment, processing facilities and other support required to sustain large-scale rice production.
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