AGRICULTURAL POLICY IN LIBERIA

A VISION FOR THE FUTUREYardley Collett, Robert Rowlett, Daniel Glass, Lauren Siegman, Jair Vazquez

BACKGROUNDThe Problem

• Western Africa• 15,935 confirmed cases• 5,689 confirmed deaths

• Liberia• 7,168 cases• 2,727 laboratory-

confirmed cases• 3,016 confirmed deaths

• Must be addressed immediately

Ebola

Population Pyramid Comparison

Crops & FisheriesCrops

Rice

Cassava

Rubber (main export)

Land Use Issues

Fisheries

Employment

Cheap source of protein

65% of animal protein needs

Government Spending• Disparities between what they brought in and what they

actually spent• Spending breakdown

Education and InfrastructureEducation

Basic agricultural practices

Look to the future

Infrastructure

Lack of major highways

Low grade constructed roadways

Limited railways

200 inches of rain

RECOMMENDATIONSThe Future

Stage 1: Rabbit Husbandry

Reproduction rate

Easy to raise

Good source of protein

Fertilizer

Stage 1: Agricultural Education

Soil Rehabilitation

Demonstration Farms

Fisheries and Rabbit Husbandry

Crop Diversification

Stage 1: Rwanda ComparisonSimilarities• 90% of Rwanda’s labor force

in agriculture• Rwandan Genocide similar

to Liberian Civil Wars• Similar Population PyramidsBest Practices• CIP• AIP• SWAp• Land Use Reforms

Stage 2: Microfinance

• Women’s Microfinance Initiative – Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania• Low-interest, no collateral, no deposit• Educational Aspects: business operations, simple

marketing and promotion techniques, basic bookkeeping, and financial planning

• Seed loans

Stage 2: Technological Education

Education in technology and repair

Specialized groups

Implementation of agricultural training in the school system

Stage 3: Future Infrastructure• Steam Trains• Elevated Tracks• Stations

• Solar Energy• 618.5 miles of railways

• 406.4 Southern leg• 212.1 Northern leg

• Security for Crops

QUESTIONS?

THANK YOU!