The Cerath Development Organization (CDO), European Union (EU), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture has launched the Cassava Transformation Project in Liberia.
According to the Head for Infrastructure and Resilience of EU, Stefania Marrone, the EU is the main donor of the project.
Marrone stated that the EU is contributing US$5.2 million, which represents four/fifths of the total budget of US$6.5 million.
She indicated that the project, which is a four-year program, started in mid-April 2021, and is funded under the EU’s regional West Africa Competitiveness Program.
“Our implementing partners were selected under a direct award, and we worked closely with Marketing Director from the Ministry of Agriculture which represented the Liberian government on the evaluation committee,” She added.
Marrone said the project is implemented in five counties in Liberia’s southeast: Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Maryland, Grand Kru and Sinoe.
She underscored that the overall objective of the action is to enhance the competitiveness and regional integration of Liberia’s cassava sector through a value chains approach, with a focus on sustained production, value addition, entrepreneurship and sustainable markets.
She revealed that the main pathways that the project will use are to strengthen efficiency of actors engaged in the cassava value chain, enhanced production, processing and commercialization of the cassava value chain, enhanced financial sustainability and commercial viability of the chain and strengthened policies and other incentives to stimulate the commercialization of the cassava sector.
Earlier, Deputy Minister for Planning and Development at the Ministry of Agriculture, Robert K. Fagan, who officially launched the project, said mechanism should be put in place to sustain the project.
Minister Fagan stated that Liberia has the potential to produce huge quantities of cassava.
He noted that the lack of good roads in rural parts of the country is impeding the growth and development of Liberian farmers.
For his part, the Country Director of the Cerath Development Organization, Leroy Kanmoh, said the project’s aim is to strengthen efficient farmer cooperative and other value chain actors, with increased value chain connectivity.
Director Kanmoh stated that the project will also address reduction in post harvest losses. He added that the increased cassava value addition with commercialization in the project landscape will enhance the sector.
The Cerath Development Organization is a non-profit entity focused on catalyzing development within rural and urban communities of Africa.