LIBERIA – Liberia’s Ministry of Agriculture has launched the Soils4Liberia Project, a $4.3 million (US$5M) initiative to map and classify soils across all 15 counties, in a move designed to strengthen data-driven and climate-smart agriculture.
The project, funded by the European Union and implemented in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), seeks to build a national soil information system that will guide farmers on which crops thrive best in specific regions, improve fertilizer efficiency, and support the restoration of degraded farmland.
Laying the groundwork for data-driven agriculture
At the project’s launch in Monrovia, Solomon Hedd-Williams, Deputy Minister for Technical Services, said the initiative marks a renewed national effort to protect Liberia’s agricultural foundation.
“Without healthy soil, we cannot talk about food security, economic progress, or climate resilience,” he told stakeholders from government agencies, the European Union, and research institutions.
Officials say the project will allow Liberia to make informed decisions about land use, attract agricultural investments, and improve ecosystem protection. Reliable soil data will also guide infrastructure projects such as irrigation and land rehabilitation.
Liberia’s National Climate Adaptation Plan (2020–2030) has previously warned that rising temperatures, soil degradation, and extreme weather events threaten the country’s agricultural productivity, reports FrontPageAfrica.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), between 10–30 percent of all food produced in Africa is lost to insect damage each year, a trend that worsens as temperatures climb.
Building on earlier efforts
The Soils4Liberia Project builds on earlier national and international collaborations. In 2023, Liberia introduced the Liberian Soil Information System, a pilot initiative developed with the FAO, the University of Liberia, and the Global Soil Partnership.
The platform was integrated into the Global Soil Information System but struggled to expand due to limited funding.
According to Halala Willie Kokulo, Director of Land Development and Water Resources at the Agriculture Ministry, Soils4Liberia will now scale that work nationwide.
“With support from the European Union and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, we can build a reliable soil database that informs policy and research,” Kokulo said.
The EU Ambassador to Liberia, Nona Deprez, said the project will support evidence-based policy and empower local farmers.
“Liberia’s potential for agricultural growth is immense,” she said.
“With more than 70 percent of the population engaged in agriculture, this sector can drive economic diversification and development.”
Collaboration across institutions
Implementation will involve the University of Liberia’s College of Agriculture and Forestry, which will conduct soil testing and laboratory analysis in coordination with the Central Agricultural Research Institute.
Other partners include the Environmental Protection Agency, Liberia Land Authority, Forestry Development Authority, Bureau of Concessions, and National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority.
The project will also feature training programs for farmers and awareness campaigns around soil science, particularly during World Soil Day in December.
“Before we can analyze how rainfall or erosion impacts our soil, we must first know what we have,” Kokulo said.
Hedd-Williams’ final remarks reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening soil health.
“Healthy soil means healthy crops; healthy crops mean healthy people; and healthy people build prosperous nations,” he said.