-Across Rural Liberia
By: Vaye Abel Lepolu/vayelepolu446@gmail.com
MONROVIA – ActionAid Liberia has commenced a nationwide agricultural assessment focusing on smallholder farmers benefiting from the Smallholder Development for Food and Nutrition Security (SADFONS) project, under the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) framework.
The assessment seeks to evaluate the level of progress, sustainability, and overall impact of the SADFONS project on local farmers, especially in improving food production, nutrition, and income generation. The exercise began in rural Montserrado County, Careysburg District, with the 21st Century Rice and Vegetable Cooperative as the first institution assessed.
The cooperative, which comprises 62 members—including 40 women—shared its experience and feedback on the project’s interventions.
Farmers reported that the SADFONS project has significantly boosted agricultural productivity and enhanced livelihoods. “We used to get around 50 bags of rice,” said one of the lead farmers. “But after SADFON’s training on improved cultivation methods, our harvest increased to about 100 bags. You can clearly see the difference.”
Female members also noted major improvements in vegetable farming. “Before SADFONS, we could only harvest about four or five bags of cucumber,” one farmer said. “Now, we produce between 10 and 15 bags with the new seeds and techniques provided.”
The farmers received improved seeds, farming tools such as hoes, cutlasses, shovels, watering cans, and a water pump to enhance year-round cultivation. Though the pump is not yet in full use due to the rainy season, it is expected to support dry-season irrigation in the months ahead.
The head of the cooperative, Mr. George S. Paye, praised the SADFONS project for its contribution but expressed concern over the lack of continued support since 2022. “We appreciate SADFONS for their assistance, but since the project ended in 2022, we have not received follow-up support. If fully funded again, our cooperative can supply rice and vegetables to Careysburg and surrounding communities,” he said.
The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP), established by G20 leaders in 2009, is a multilateral fund aimed at strengthening food production and resilience among smallholder farmers in low-income countries. The fund promotes inclusive participation of governments, civil society organizations, and producer groups in agricultural decision-making.
Since 2010, GAFSP has supported more than 320 public and private sector projects in over 36 developing countries, totaling US$2.44 billion in grants and concessional financing. These projects focus on food security, climate resilience, gender equality, and sustainable agricultural practices.
Despite this progress, global smallholder farmers still need an estimated US$212 billion annually by 2030 to meet the demands of food security and climate adaptation, highlighting the urgency for continued investment. A civil society consortium led by ActionAid International, alongside the Eastern and Southern Africa Small-Scale Farmers Forum (ESAFF), AsiaDHRRA, and COSADH, has been contracted by GAFSP to review selected projects in Liberia, Burundi, DRC, Tanzania, Cambodia, Laos, and Haiti.
These participatory reviews will document success stories, challenges, and lessons learned—particularly focusing on climate resilience, agroecology, women’s empowerment, nutrition, and conflict fragility.
The findings from Liberia and other countries will inform future GAFSP policies and improve donor coordination for sustainable smallholder farming.
The Smallholder Development for Food and Nutrition Security (SADFONS) project operates across eleven counties: Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, River Gee, Maryland, Bomi, Bong, Montserrado, Sinoe, Grand Bassa, River Cess, and Grand Cape Mount.
The project focuses on empowering rural farmers, enhancing productivity through improved inputs and techniques, promoting nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and building resilience against climate shocks.
As ActionAid’s assessment continues nationwide, farmers remain hopeful that the review will pave the way for renewed donor support and long-term sustainability of Liberia’s smallholder agriculture sector. “With continued assistance,” said Mr. Paye, “our farmers can not only feed their families but also contribute to food security across the country.”
