Liberian President to launch new national agriculture development plan

President Joseph Nyumah Boakai to Unveil National Agriculture Development Plan

On July 10, President Joseph Nyumah Boakai will unveil the National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) in Monrovia, aiming to enhance agricultural growth throughout his tenure, according to Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah.

The initiative seeks to secure food sustainability and generate employment opportunities for women and youths by encouraging agricultural investments from governmental bodies, development partners, and the private sector. It emphasizes support for the agricultural value chain, focusing on key crops and sectors including rice, cassava, maize, rubber, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, fisheries, and livestock.

Implementation of the NADP and its Impact on Sustainable Development Goals

The implementation of the National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) promises to bolster smallholder farmers and stakeholders within the agricultural value chain, fostering the adoption of sustainable farming methods and technologies capable of revolutionizing the sector.

Challenges and Funding for the Agricultural Sector

The agricultural sector in Liberia is still recovering from the impacts of a 14-year civil war and continues to face numerous challenges, including significant donor funding. However, the government plans to allocate US$418 million over the next six years to support the NADP, following its development and validation by stakeholders within Agriculture Minister Nuetah’s initial hundred days in office.

Source: liberianobserver.com

SDGs, Targets and Indicators

1. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Target 1.4: By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership, and control over land and other forms of property.
   • Indicator: The article mentions that the National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) aims to generate employment opportunities for women and youths, which can contribute to reducing poverty.

2. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers.
   • Indicator: The NADP seeks to enhance agricultural growth and secure food sustainability, which can contribute to increasing agricultural productivity and incomes for smallholder farmers.

3. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.a: Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property.
   • Indicator: The NADP aims to generate employment opportunities for women in the agricultural sector, promoting gender equality in access to economic resources and opportunities.

4. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading, and innovation, including through a focus on high-value-added and labor-intensive sectors.
   • Indicator: The NADP emphasizes support for the agricultural value chain, which can contribute to economic growth through diversification and technological upgrading in the agricultural sector.

5. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
   • Indicator: The NADP aims to foster the adoption of sustainable farming methods and technologies, contributing to the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources in agriculture.

6. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Indicator: Although not explicitly mentioned in the article, the adoption of sustainable farming methods and technologies promoted by the NADP can contribute to strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards in the agricultural sector.

Source: freshplaza.com