Kakata, Margibi County – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., today officially opened the National Agriculture Fair 2024 (NAF 2024) at the historic Booker Washington Institute (BWI) Campus in Kakata, Margibi County.

The event, held under the theme “Promoting Agriculture for Food Security, Nutrition, and Sustainable Development,” brought together farmers, government officials, international partners, and agricultural stakeholders to celebrate Liberia’s agricultural sector and chart a path forward for its transformation.

In his special remarks, President Boakai highlighted the vital role of agriculture in Liberia’s economic development, emphasizing the government’s commitment to food security, poverty reduction, and sustainable development through the National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP 2024–2030).

“Our farmers are the backbone of our nation’s progress and today, we recommit ourselves to addressing the challenges that hinder our agricultural growth while celebrating the resilience and innovations of our esteemed farmers.” President Boakai said.

He underscored the pivotal role of the ARREST Agenda, with agriculture as the cornerstone in achieving Liberia’s developmental goals. He outlined the government’s focus on:
    •    Enhancing Smallholder Productivity: Providing resources, training, and modern farming tools to empower farmers.
    •    Expanding Agricultural Value Chains: Connecting farmers to local and international markets to increase competitiveness.
    •    Climate Resilience: Building capacity to adapt to climate change and ensure sustainable food systems.

The President urged all Liberians to embrace the mantra, “Liberians Feed Yourselves.” He stressed the urgent need to reduce dependence on food imports by harnessing the country’s fertile soil, abundant resources, and industrious people.