By Nathan Kollie
GBARNGA, Bong County, Liberia – July 28, 2026— The Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) has initiated a nationwide program aimed at reviving Liberia’s coffee industry by distributing approximately 750,000 Liberica coffee seedlings to farmers.
The program was launched on Tuesday at the Liberia Marketing and Produce Corporation (LMPC) compound in Gbarnga, in partnership with the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). The distribution will cover the counties of Bong, Nimba, Lofa, Montserrado, and Bomi.
During the launch, LACRA Director General Christopher Sankolo emphasized that Liberica is Liberia’s signature coffee variety. He stated that this initiative is focused on rebuilding the country’s coffee sector, which has significantly declined since the civil war. The government’s goal is to establish over five million Liberica coffee trees by 2030 to restore Liberia’s position in the global coffee market.
Sankolo noted that the first phase of this initiative in Bong County targets the districts of Kokoyah, Panta, Kpaai, Sanoyea, and parts of Jorquelleh, with plans for expansion to other districts.
He also mentioned that LACRA will provide technical support to farmers, explaining that Liberica coffee begins producing within three to four years and can remain productive for 25 to 40 years.
He acknowledged existing challenges in coffee processing but assured that the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Agriculture and LACRA, is working to provide processing equipment to strengthen commercial coffee production.
Beneficiary farmers have welcomed the initiative, stating that it will enhance household incomes, promote self-reliance, and create new economic opportunities, all while helping to restore Liberia’s once-thriving coffee industry.
