By O’Neill A.R. Philips
The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) has announced rice cultivation on about 7400 hectares of lowland across Liberia in 2026.
Agriculture Minister, Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah made the disclosure in Behyepea Nimba county on Sunday, January 11, 2026 when he launched the 2026 harvest season.
Dr. Nuetah said about 2000 hectares of the 74000 hectares is situated in Nimba .
He also said government has decided to work with community leaders across Nimba to develop and cultivate about 50 hectares of lowlands from its agriculture districts for communal farming.
The Agricultural boss noted that proceeds from such rice farms will be used for the communities development.
He promised the farmers that government will install a rice processing facility in Saclepea in addition to several others in the county to aid rice processing .
Dr. Nuetah encouraged farmers to produce more rice so that buyers can find it affordable on the market .
” We eat more rice, so you must grow rice, and let it be plenty on the market,” Dr. Nuetah said. ” We too, that eat more rice must buy rice from our farmers,” he added.
The Agriculture boss also indicated that to boost agriculture in the country, government is constructing thirteen mechanize centers across the country with three of the mechanize centers in Nimba.
Dr. Nuetah expressed president Joseph N. Boakai’s commitment in developing the agricultural sector adding, the president wants farmers do agriculture differently.
Earlier, Zoegeh Administrative District Commissioner Alex Tomah lauded the agricultural boss and team for their support to farmers in the area.
Commissioner Tomah said the gesture from the government to support farmers in that part of the country is a clear manifestation of a responsible government.
Also, Stanley David, chairman of the farmers in Behyepea praised the MOA’ s intervention in the area through the Smallholder Agriculture Transformation Agribusiness Revitalization Project ( STAR -P).
However, he appealed for additional support including boots, cutlasses, and other farming materials to boost their agriculture activities especially rice .
The 2026 harvest launch in Behyepea brought together farmers from far and near including elders, youth and women groups.
Dr. Nuetah and team also extended the harvest launch to Blami and Guotoin towns in Yarwin Mehnsonnoh agriculture district., several kilometers bordering Nimba and Bong Counties along the St. John River.
The Agriculture boss is touring several agriculture districts across Nimba to launch the 2026 harvest season and delivering government’s commitment to enhancing agriculture in Liberia.
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