About Grow-2 project

Introduction

The project constitutes the successor phase of the Sida-funded “Markets and value chains in agriculture” (GROW Liberia, 2013-2022 – hereafter called GROW-1) and is named GROW- 2.

It aims at contributing to the increase in income and employment opportunities through MSME development in priority agro-based value chains in Liberia. More precisely, capitalizing on the results and lessons of GROW-1, the project will focus on upscaling prior efforts and expanding sectoral and thematic outreach. The project is aligned with Liberia’s strategic development priorities and Sweden’s cooperation strategy with Liberia. 

Core principles include searching for country ownership, effective synergies with related programmes, projects and initiatives, pursuing a Market System Development (MSD) approach adapted to the local context, emphasizing national capacity building and results orientation as well as facilitating regional linkages. The programme will also address cross-cutting issues, among which are gender equality, women and youth economic empowerment, and environmental protection, including climate change and biodiversity concerns.

THE SECTOR IN BRIEF

Agriculture is the mainstay of Liberia’s economy, contributing around 35 per cent to the country’s GDP(2019) and constituting the source of livelihood for an estimated two-thirds of the population mostly engaged in smallholder farming. Farming is characterized by its labour intensity, shifting cultivation, and a limited degree of mechanization. Accordingly, productivity levels are low, and the production of staple crops does not meet national needs. While women are often reported to be more involved in the production of food crops and their trading, and men more in cash crops, the real picture is more nuanced. In general, women have less access to agricultural resources than men (such as land, agricultural inputs, technology, training and extension services).

The sector offers many opportunities, given the sizable young workforce, increasing demand for food products and opportunities arising from import substitution. Yet, smallholder farmers mainly use simple tools (often imported and of low quality) and very little equipment while facing financial constraints, and limited technical knowledge. There are opportunities for local value addition and improved access to domestic, regional and international markets. In the case of the horticulture and cassava value chains, enhancing production and value addition is expected to contribute also to food security challenges.