Monrovia, Liberia - February 17, 2021 – The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Agriculture organized the annual National Agriculture Fair in partnership with key actors and stakeholders in the Agriculture Sector. The event kicked off by Liberian President George Weah focused on displaying agricultural products and agribusinesses; with the aim of creating a platform for building business partnerships and market linkages. The national event, under the Theme: Investing in Agriculture for Prosperity and Development, is also intended to create the platform for stakeholders in the agricultural value chain to exhibit what is happening at the various levels in the sector and lessons presented for improvement. In partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) provided technical support in the planning of the fair and provided $10,000USD in direct support. 

FAO facilitated the participation of 18 beneficiary farmers (8 males; 10 females) of its ongoing projects to the fair to create opportunities for acquaintance with potential business partners for possible business linkages and/or partnership. Beneficiary Madam Tiwa Blama of the Mayour Women Cooperative, based in Foya, Lofa County was awarded the Best Individual Producer for rice. In addition, the Say No to Hunger Group, based in Whenlenla, Nimba County was awarded Best Vegetable Producer Group. FAO's produce booth was visited by the President, who purchased $1,000USD worth of produce directly from farmers. These beneficiaries consisted of farmers from projects funded by the United Arab Emirates, the Government of Japan, Governments of Norway and Sweden through the (Joint Programme on Rural Women Economic Empowerment), the Peacebuilding Fund, and FAO, itself, through its Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP). The event also included a stakeholder dialogue, which brought together farmers, agribusinesses, producer organizations, farmer cooperatives, input suppliers, SMEs and technicians, to a forum to listen to experts on the commercial viability of crops and possible solutions; and farmers presenting their challenges to national leaders, (ranging from financing, technologies, inputs, agro-insurance, agro-information). The event was a success and showed Liberia's continued commitment to sustainable development through agriculture.