‎LACRA Launches Capacity-Building Program

‎By Othello S. Nimely

‎Monrovia-October 14, 2025: In a bid to restore Liberia’s agricultural sector to its pre-war status, the Liberia Agricultural Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) has launched a capacity-building training for its Quality Control Officers and Produce Inspectors.

‎The workshop, organized by LACRA’s Department of Operations under the leadership of Deputy Director General Alpha Gongolee, focuses on strengthening the technical skills of staff in areas such as sampling, inspection, grading, and quality control standards.

‎Speaking at the opening session on October 14, 2025, Acting Director General Dan Sayee emphasized that the institution is taking major steps to improve the quality of cocoa produced in Liberia, moving from Grade Two to Grade One. “For too long, Liberia has been producing Grade Two cocoa. The time has come to upgrade and match international standards,” Sayee stated.

‎He revealed that LACRA is working closely with Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire to establish a regional cocoa, coffee, and oil palm bloc that aligns with global market requirements. The partnership, he noted, will strengthen Liberia’s competitiveness in the agricultural commodity trade.

Cross-section of participants

‎Sayee further disclosed that LACRA through it partners, has developed a mobile application designed to monitor the purchase and sale of cocoa, coffee, and palm products across the country. He added that the app will soon be launched, and staff will receive training on how to effectively use the new technology.

‎The Acting Director General encouraged participants to remain committed to their duties, stressing that their hard work and dedication would one day make them “among the best inspectors and quality control officers in the country.”

‎The ongoing two-day training which covers key areas such as quality control standards, sampling methods, inspection techniques, and product grading, is being held at a local hall in Paynesville.

‎‎Also speaking at the event, Fredrick Gibson, representing the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)-one of LACRA’s key partners, pledged UNIDO’s continuous commitment to helping Liberia’s cocoa and coffee sectors meet international standards.

‎‎Gibson emphasized that UNIDO is dedicated to empowering smallholder farmers to access competitive and relevant markets. ‎He urged farmers not to view agriculture as a poor man’s profession but rather as a profitable and transformative industry capable of driving national growth.

Participants at the workshop

‎‎Encouraging the participants, Gibson called on them to aim higher and believe in their potential, noting that with hard work and determination, they can become some of the best professionals in Liberia’s agricultural sector.

The initiative forms part of LACRA’s broader vision to strengthen Liberia’s agricultural commodity industry and ensure that locally produced goods meet international quality benchmarks.