Liberia’s agricultural regulatory authority is looking to the Ivorian model of cocoa production for guidance. Acting Director General Dan Saryee and Deputy for Operations and Technical Services Apha Gongolee of the Liberia Agricultural Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) have embarked on a week‑long mission to the Republic of Ivory Coast. The visit aims to deepen LACRA’s understanding of the Ivorian cocoa sector, which exported more than $3.3 billion worth of cocoa in 2023.
During the mission the officials will meet key institutions such as the Ivorian Coffee and Cocoa Regulatory Authority and the Rainforest Alliance. They will also tour cocoa farms, fermentation centers and packaging factories to observe sustainable practices and advanced post‑harvest processes.
The trip forms part of LACRA’s broader effort to strengthen Liberia’s cocoa value chain and improve farmer livelihoods. The new administration is implementing reforms to decentralise operations and provide direct support to cocoa farmers, including the establishment of regional warehouses, practical farmer training programmes and the construction of solar dryers in major cocoa‑producing regions. Additionally, LACRA is developing a traceability system to track cocoa beans from farm to port, ensuring compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulations.
By exploring the practices of Ivory Coast—a global leader in cocoa production—LACRA hopes to transform Liberia’s cocoa sector, raise quality standards and meet international market requirements. The officials are scheduled to return to Liberia on 20 September 2025 with insights that will shape the authority’s strategy for the cocoa industry. This mission underscores LACRA’s commitment to enhancing the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and boosting Liberia’s export competitiveness, with the Ivorian model serving as a benchmark for future progress.
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