President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, on yesterday, May 2, 2025, paid a historic visit to the newly constructed Liberian American Poultry Farm, a US$26 million agro-industrial complex now nearing full operation in Careysburg. The project, though now advancing under Boakai’s leadership, was birthed under the administration of former President George M. Weah, marking a true example of governance continuity with a significant impact on Liberia’s agricultural future.
The visit was met with celebration and optimism, as stakeholders hailed the farm as a major step towards food security, local empowerment, and import reduction in the poultry sector.
Established in 2021, the Liberian American Poultry Farm aims to drastically reduce the country’s reliance on imported poultry products. At full capacity, the farm is expected to create 500 direct jobs, while cultivating 200 acres of maize to support the production of 30,000 metric tons of chicken feed annually. The facility also plans to work closely with smallholder farmers by providing seeds, technical services, and capacity building to revitalize the broader poultry industry.
While President Boakai’s administration is seeing the implementation of the facility, the vision was revolutionized in Bomi County and financed through a loan secured under former President Weah’s leadership. The previous government secured a complex financial arrangement totaling over US$26 million for the project, including an Export Credit Facility Agreement of EUR 21.5 million and a Down Payment Facility Agreement valued at EUR 4.5 million.
At the time, former President Weah had emphasized that the poultry complex, which would include an integrated egg farm, feed mill, egg-packing station, and workshop, would “provide food security and create jobs for our people.” He urged the Legislature to ratify the financing agreement, which was facilitated through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning with Bank Leumi Le-Israel B.M.
The significance of the poultry farm is underscored by Liberia’s high dependency on foreign imports. In 2021 alone, the country imported US$43.8 million worth of poultry meat, ranking 86th globally among poultry meat importers. Imports primarily came from Poland, Brazil, the Netherlands, Ukraine, and Russia. Poultry was Liberia’s 11th most imported commodity that year.
Local poultry farmers have long called for government support. According to Joseph N. Kodah, Administrator of the Poultry Farmers Association of Liberia, the sector continues to face barriers including limited access to affordable feed, veterinary drugs, farm equipment, and financing.
“There is a real opportunity for Liberia to feed itself and create wealth through poultry,” Kodah stressed. “But the industry needs strong and consistent support from government and partners.”
In response to growing concerns about agriculture, the Weah administration earlier suspended import tariffs on key agricultural inputs such as breeding livestock and fish, measures aimed at stimulating domestic food production.
Now, under President Boakai’s stewardship, the fruits of that vision are beginning to materialize. The Liberian American Poultry Farm stands as a beacon of what’s possible when national interests transcend political differences.
As Liberia strives toward self-sufficiency in food production, this venture in Careysburg serves as a testament to both foresight and follow-through, anchored in bipartisan commitment to agricultural transformation.
