Did You Know? Liberia's 2023 National Agricultural Fair Faces Cancellation Due to Lack of Funding.

Did you know that the 2023 annual National Agricultural Fair in Liberia is at risk of cancellation due to a lack of funding? Deputy Agriculture Minister for Administration, Precious Tetteh, has disclosed that the fair will not be held this year, as the government did not allocate funds for the event in the current national budget for agriculture. 

 

Liberia's Agriculture Law, enacted in 1971, mandates the Minister of Agriculture to issue regulations for and execute the holding of an annual National Agricultural Fair to display agricultural produce grown in the country. The fair serves as an excellent forum to assess food and tree crops grown in Liberia and promotes competition among farmers and counties with their locally grown products. Prizes are awarded at the event, and agribusinesses can display their plant-based products, including food, drinks, cosmetics, and exported goods. 

 

The fair also attracts various stakeholders, including farmers, agro-processors, agriculture concessionaires, development partners, financial institutions, and agro value chain producers. However, this year's fair is in jeopardy due to insufficient funding, which is not the first time such an issue has occurred. The Ministry of Agriculture was unable to stage the fair in 2022, with no reason provided for its failure to host the event. 

 

Agriculture plays a significant role in Liberia's economy and has the potential to reduce poverty, create employment, and increase export earnings. Unfortunately, the sector continues to suffer setbacks due to limited public spending. In the 2023 budget, the government approved only US$5 million for the agriculture sector, with no direct subsidies for farmers and agribusinesses. This allocation is far below the Malabo benchmark for food and nutrition security. 

 

 

Liberia became a signatory to the African food security framework in 2003, known as the Maputo Declaration, which mandates that every African government allocate 10 percent of its total national budget for agriculture. However, funding for agriculture in Liberia still largely depends on international partners, with limited impact shown. 

 

As the public becomes more aware of the importance of the National Agricultural Fair, it is essential to continue educating them on the critical role it plays in displaying the progress and potential of Liberia's agricultural sector. Increased awareness and advocacy may help secure the necessary funding to ensure that the fair can continue to highlight the nation's agricultural accomplishments and promote growth and development in the sector. 

Just So You Know CCP We Inside Blogger My Name Ohoro G. T. Worjloh III

Source: Daily Observer