Liberia Partners with Vietnamese Firm to Launch Pilot Rice Project Aiming to Enhance Food Security

Key Takeaways

Liberia has signed an MOU with Vietnam’s Uniland Group to establish a pilot rice farm in Bong County, aiming for food self-sufficiency.
The project will utilize advanced Vietnamese agricultural technology on a 50-hectare site, with the first crop expected by May next year.
Benefits include job creation, technology transfer, and increased local rice production to reduce reliance on imports and position Liberia as a potential exporter.

New Phase for Liberia’s Rice Production

Liberia is advancing towards food self-sufficiency through a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with Vietnam’s Uniland Group. This agreement focuses on establishing a pilot rice farm in Bong County, facilitated by Uniland’s local subsidiary, Unifarm Liberia. The initiative aims to employ advanced Vietnamese agricultural technology, significantly boosting rice production while reducing reliance on imports and potentially allowing Liberia to emerge as a rice exporter.

The pilot farm will cover an area of 50 hectares and is the first step in a larger strategy to enhance rice cultivation nationally. At the signing ceremony, Unifarm Managing Director Peter Edward Dinning expressed enthusiasm about the project. “The first crop is expected to be planted by May next year, and the necessary equipment will arrive in Liberia within 45 days from the signing of this MOU,” he stated. This project is designed not only to improve productivity but also to create job opportunities and assist in technology transfer to local communities.

Agriculture Minister Dr. Alexander Nuetah welcomed the initiative, highlighting technology implementation and skill development as key benefits for local farmers. “The company will bring Vietnamese technology to support rice production,” he noted. The Liberian government will provide land for Unifarm to produce rice for both domestic and international markets. Minister Nuetah remarked that this project aligns with the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, which prioritizes food self-sufficiency and reducing dependency on imported staples.

Minister Nuetah detailed that Liberia aims to cultivate 50,000 hectares of rice, including 2,000 hectares of high-yield varieties. The Vietnamese technology being introduced is capable of yielding over five metric tons per hectare, which could significantly change the agricultural landscape. Although the investment’s financial figures remain undisclosed, Minister Nuetah emphasized the focus on knowledge transfer and job creation. “By May next year, we should be able to get the first production up,” he added, noting that the equipment is on schedule for arrival.

Negotiations for this project began in March 2025, with Minister Nuetah praising the collaboration between Liberian and Vietnamese partners. He expressed openness to any investors contributing positively to the agriculture sector. The Unifarm Liberia pilot rice farm marks a key milestone in Liberia’s agricultural development, indicating a collaborative effort that combines foreign expertise with local capacity building, significantly enhancing the nation’s food security prospects.

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