Liberian rice is not only a staple but also holds a deep-rooted significance in our culture. It's often said that a Liberian hasn't truly eaten unless they've had rice.
Rice is the cornerstone of our diet, constituting a substantial 33% of Liberian food consumption and providing about 50% of adult calorie intake. Recognizing its importance, the Liberian Ministry of Agriculture is spearheading the Smallholder Agricultural Productivity Enhancement and Commercialization (SAPEC) Project. This initiative receives funding from the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP), the African Development Fund (ADF), and the Government of Liberia.
The primary goal of the SAPEC project is to reduce rural poverty and enhance household food security. Its objective is to increase the income of smallholder farmers and rural entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on women, youth, and the physically-challenged.
Nutrition is a crucial aspect of health and development. Improved nutrition leads to better outcomes in terms of infant, child, and maternal health, stronger immune systems, safer pregnancies and childbirth, reduced risk of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular ailments, and increased longevity.
In terms of rice varieties cultivated by local farmers, Liberia boasts a range of options. These include improved lowland and upland varieties such as LAC 23 (a popular upland variety), NERICAs, Suakoko, and ARICAs. Additionally, many farmers grow local rice varieties like gissi, soja du, ten cent, jologbo, among others.
Our local rice varieties are low in calories and fat while offering appreciable levels of protein and carbohydrates.
In Liberia, food choices are made thoughtfully. When it comes to our rice production challenges, the adage holds true: 'We eat to live, not live to eat.' With improved rice varieties becoming the new norm, investing in rice production in Liberia will not only result in more enhanced varieties that bolster our health security but also contribute to our tax revenue base."