By: Nukanah Kollie/ kollienukanah94@gmail.com
Suakoko District, Bong County –As the sun rose over the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) in Suakoko District, the compound became a lively center of activity, hosting a five-day pre-validation workshop for Liberia’s long-anticipated National Poultry Strategy. This critical gathering signifies a renewed push to cut Liberia’s dependency on imported poultry and build a resilient, self-sustaining local industry.
The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including poultry farmers, agriculture experts, government representatives, academic institutions, and local authorities—unified by a shared goal to revive and regulate the poultry industry.
Breathing Life into a Stalled Strategy
Dr. Arthur Bob Karnuah, Director General of CARI and former FAO specialist, noted that the National Poultry Strategy was initially drafted five to six years ago with backing from the FAO during the CDC-led government. Despite extensive stakeholder collaboration, the strategy remained dormant—until now.
“It’s been overdue,” Dr. Karnuah remarked. “But it’s heartening to see concrete action being taken. Liberia’s continued overreliance on poultry imports is unsustainable and must change.”
He outlined the core focus areas of the strategy:
• Mapping Producers: Gathering data on poultry farmers across all scales.
• Workforce Development: Creating skilled labor for the industry.
• Feed Self-Sufficiency: Encouraging domestic maize production for feed inputs.
• Access to Finance and Policy Support: Developing financial and policy tools to assist producers.
• Updated Sector Data: Ensuring the strategy reflects current trends and figures.
• Infrastructure Growth: Building hatcheries and processing plants to establish a complete poultry value chain.
“This isn’t just a document,” Dr. Karnuah stressed. “It’s a strategic guide for Liberia’s journey toward agricultural sovereignty.”
Local Government Pledges Backing
Speaking on behalf of the Mayor of Gbarnga, Administrative Assistant Alex D. Mulbah Sr. extended the city’s full support for the initiative. “There are many smallholder poultry farmers in Gbarnga. Implementing this strategy will help organize them into cooperatives and strengthen local production,” he said.
Mulbah also raised concerns over the poor quality of imported poultry. “These products often arrive in substandard condition and pose health risks. This policy is vital to promote healthier, homegrown alternatives,” he added.
Aligning with National Development Priorities
Deputy Minister for Development and Planning at the Ministry of Agriculture, Hon. David K. Akoi, connected the strategy to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s ARREST Agenda (Agenda for Reform and Transformation), which emphasizes pillars such as agribusiness, infrastructure, governance, human capital, sanitation, and tourism. (Liberia Endorses $8.4 Billion ARREST Agenda and County Development Plans.
“We must align this strategy with current conditions,” Hon. Akoi stated. “It should incorporate climate resilience, production benchmarks, and reliable data to meet the President’s target of producing 500,000 birds annually.”
The Agriculture Ministry’s budget has seen a major boost—from under $5 million to over $13 million—with $8 million dedicated through the Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP) to enhance the cultivation of key commodities like poultry, rice, cassava, and maize.
“This goes beyond increasing poultry numbers,” Akoi explained. “It’s about connecting farmers to markets, improving incomes, and ensuring national food security.”
He also clarified the administration’s approach: “We don’t need to import bans. Instead, we need to uplift Liberian farmers. When they grow quality maize for feed, local buyers and processors will naturally favor domestic sources.”
Industry Leaders and Partners Welcome Progress
Joseph N. Kodah Sr., President of the Liberia Poultry Federation, celebrated the government’s renewed commitment to the sector. “This is a major breakthrough,” he said. “We’ve advocated for this policy for years. With the leadership of President Boakai and Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, we’re finally making headway.” Kodah voiced concern over the unregulated influx of expired and unsafe poultry products. “These poor-quality imports have been linked to rising cases of kidney disease, high blood pressure, and skin ailments,” he warned.
He highlighted a major component of the strategy—categorizing poultry producers into small, medium, and large-scale. “Not every farmer has the same needs,” Kodah said. “This framework allows the government to provide targeted financing, training, and market access.”
Also weighing in was King J. Kerkula, Technical Sector Officer of BRAC Liberia, one of the country’s key development partners in poultry. He reflected on past challenges: “In 2013, we were producing over 125,000 day-old chicks and 672 metric tons of meat each year, but the local market couldn’t absorb it. We had to shut down. This strategy gives us renewed hope.”
Government Investment and Regional Performance.
In 2023, the government of Liberia inaugurated a US$26 million agro-industrial poultry complex. The facility houses an integrated egg farm, a feed mill, an egg packaging plant, and a training center—part of national efforts to enhance the poultry sector and lessen import reliance. (Liberia invests US$26 million in construction of agro-industrial poultry complex | Food Business Africa – Africa’s No.1 Food & Beverage Manufacturing Industry Magazine and Website), Nonetheless, Liberia’s poultry production stood at 15,000 metric tons in 2022—a modest 2.15% increase from the previous year. The output still trails regional neighbors: Ghana (70.9 kt), Sierra Leone (21.6 kt), and Guinea (14.9 kt), emphasizing the need for deeper sectoral reforms and investments. (Poultry Meat Production rose 2.15% to 15.0 kt in Liberia in 2022 | Helgi Library)
What Comes Next
With the pre-validation exercise nearing completion, the immediate next steps include integrating feedback from participants, submitting the updated version of the strategy to President Boakai for endorsement, and advancing it to the National Legislature for official approval.
Once enacted, the National Poultry Strategy will serve as a roadmap to expand Liberia’s poultry industry—creating jobs, enhancing food safety, increasing production, and reducing import dependency.
As Kodah concluded, “This marks a new beginning. It will bring structure, opportunity, and better public health to the Liberian poultry landscape.”
