EU-funded Seeds4Liberia Project Strengthens CARI’s Field Operations with a Vehicle and Motorbikes

Seeds4Liberia, an EU-funded project, has handed over a Toyota Hilux pickup and three Yamaha motorbikes to the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) to support the institution’s field activities under the project.

Handing over the vehicle and motorbikes, Dr. Inoussa Akintayo, Project National Coordinator and AfricaRice’s Country Representative to Liberia, underscored the critical role of partnerships in achieving the project’s objectives and promised continued support through the Seeds4Liberia project.

With the support, CARI’s scientists and technicians can now reach isolated farming communities more quickly, bringing high-quality seeds, tools, and expertise that help farmers boost yields and improve food security.

^{(l–r) CARI’s Director General, Dr. Arthur Bob Karnuah, and Dr. Inoussa Akintayo, Project National Coordinator/AfricaRice’s Country Representative to Liberia}

Expressing his appreciation, CARI's Director General, Dr. Arthur B. Karnuah, assured that the vehicle and motorbikes would be utilized as intended. CARI employees and Seeds4Liberia officials joined the handover ceremony, reflecting the initiative’s collaborative spirit.

AfricaRice, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and WorldFish are implementing the EU-funded initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), and the Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA).  

Launched late in 2024, the project aims to enhance the value chains of rice, cassava, coffee, soybeans, and fish by addressing challenges such as human capacity development and the lack of certified seed varieties. It focuses on strengthening the capacities of farmers, private seed enterprises, and government agencies. The project aims to cultivate approximately 4,200 hectares, producing rice, cassava, soybeans, coffee, and fish seeds. It promises to deliver significant quantities of certified seeds and fingerlings throughout its lifespan.