[By: O’Neill A.R.Philips]
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai on Friday, December 12, 2025 launched the 2025 National Agriculture Fair ( NAF) with a commitment to mechanize farming in Liberia while improving farm to market roads.
The Liberia leader launched the 2025 NAF in Gompa ( Ganta) city in Nimba County.
President Boakai said his Government is pushing hard to rehabilitate feeder roads across Liberia noting, good roads reduce transport costs, keep produce fresh, increase farmers’ earnings, and strengthen rural economies.
“Better roads link farmers to markets, but they also link children to schools and families to health care,” the Liberian leader stated.
The Liberian leader said in order to mechanize farming in Liberia, his administration is bringing in ” yellow machines” and balley bridges.
” This is why we are bringing the yellow machines,” President Boakai said.” The yellow machines will help to build those roads that will give farmers access to further source. And we are bringing along balley bridges,” he stated.
The president statement was received with thunderous applause from the audience.
Head of State Boakai said the recent launch of 144 km of feeder road rehabilitation in Lofa County, one of the country’s breadbasket counties, is just the beginning.
He stressed that government intend to replicate that effort across Liberia until rural communities are fully connected and empowered.
President Boakai said production alone is not enough, but that farmers must be able to reach markets with what they produce.
“Better roads mean stronger markets.
Stronger markets mean more income,” He said. “More income means stronger and more productive families,” the Liberian leader added.
Consequently, the president noted that better roads are directly tie to his government push for mechanization.
President Boakai acknowledged a recent World Bank report in which Liberia’s economy grew by 4.0% last year, with agriculture contributing significantly.
The report states that the agriculture sector grew by 3.4%, contributing 1.3 percentage points to the nation’s GDP while rubber production increased by nearly 18%, and rice, the country’s staple food, increased by 8.5%.
President Boakai asserted that the gains reflect improved farming conditions, better roads, and policy decisions that support farmers.
According to him, more than 60% of agricultural labor in Liberia sits on the shoulders of women adding, they plant, weed, harvest, process, transport, and sell.
“Their calloused hands have carried this country for decades. That is why my Administration is committed to ensuring that, by 2026, Liberia will have 13 fully operational mechanization service centers across the nation,” President Boakai announced.
He said the mechanization centers will ease the backbreaking work done mostly by women, increase productivity, ensure that progress in agriculture becomes progress in their daily lives.
Head of State Boakai further stressed that mechanization is not only about machines; it is about dignity, and also about giving women and youth the tools they need to succeed.
“For, when agriculture grows, Liberia grows. When farmers earn more, families live better,” President Boakai said.”When rural communities thrive, the entire nation rises. When we build indigenous wealth, we build a stable future for our country,” he added.
The Liberian leader reiterated that agriculture sits at the heart of his administration national development agenda, and called on the youth to venture into agriculture.
“To our young people, agriculture is not what it used to be. Today, it is technology, data, logistics, agribusiness, and innovation,” he pointed out. “From drones to digital mapping, from processing plants to climate-smart farming, agriculture is an open door to leadership and opportunity,” the president stated.
He emphasized that the future of Liberian agriculture must be shaped and driven by Liberians adding, Liberians must buy their own food, support their own producers, and believe in their own potential.
“A strong agriculture sector means a strong Liberia. A food-secure Liberia is a proud Liberia. And a prosperous Liberia must be built by Liberian hands.When agriculture grows, Liberia grows. When farmers prosper, Liberia prospers. And when we feed ourselves, we free ourselves,” president Boakai asserted.
He used the occasion to lavish praise on the farmers as been hardworking, resilient, creative, and deeply connected to the soil that sustains the nation.
President Boakai expressed profound gratitude to development partners including, IFAD, FAO, the World Bank, the African Development Bank, WFP, and the EU for their support in strengthening the country’s agriculture foundation.
The official opening ceremony of the NAF brought together Government Officials, Religious and Traditional Leaders, Development Partners,
Farmers, Cooperatives, citizens from Nimba and beyond, the media amongst others.
This year’s theme for the NAF is : Empowering Farmers, Enriching the Nation.
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