IITA and partners make history in Liberia’s agricultural transformation

IITA–CGIAR and its partners have achieved a historic milestone in Liberia’s agricultural sector through the Seed4Liberia Project. For the first time in the country’s history, breeder seeds of improved IITA cassava varieties were exported in large quantities, used to establish breeder seed fields, and distributed to 27 pioneering foundation seed producers. These seed entrepreneurs will play a pivotal role in developing a sustainable commercial cassava seed system within the formal seed framework introduced by the BASICS-II project.

The symbolic seed distribution ceremony brought together key stakeholders, including the AfricaRice Center, the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), policymakers, farmer cooperatives, seed producers, processors, and development partners across the country’s cassava value chain.

Liberia’s Minister of Agriculture, Dr Alexander Nuetah graced the event, underscoring the critical role of private sector engagement in ensuring that research innovations reach farmers sustainably.

This landmark achievement represents more than the distribution of cassava planting material, rather it reflects a turning point for Liberia’s agricultural transformation. By improving access to quality cassava seeds, the project aims to enhance productivity, strengthen food security, and uplift the livelihoods of farmers and rural communities.

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