FAO has been heavily involved in supporting the Government of Liberia and the World Bank in designing this project first in 2010-2012 and then its start-up and implementation in 2013-2014.
The main objectives of the Mid-Term Review were to assess implementation progress since the project inception and to identify issues and agree on potential adjustments to project implementation. The mission visited Liberia during the period November 2 to 13, 2015. It held meetings with the Project Management Unit of MoA, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and project implementing partners (Environmental Protection Agency, Cooperative Development Agency, Afriland First Bank Liberia, SOCODEVI, concessionaires and NGOs). The mission made field visits to four counties where it met participating cocoa, coffee, rubber and oil palm farmers and implementation partners.
The project’s development objective is “to increase access to finance, inputs, technologies and markets for smallholder tree crop farmers in Liberia, and to develop a long term development program for the tree crops sector”. The STCRSP was initially planned for implementation over a period of four years, starting in 2013, in six of the country’s main tree crop producing counties (Montserrado, Margibi, Grand Bassa, Bong, Nimba and Grand Gedeh). It targets smallholder farmers and focuses on a limited number of project areas to ensure visibility and impact.
The Mid-Term Review rated the overall performance of the Project as moderately satisfactory. After some delay, during start-up, implementation of the main tree crop revitalization activities targeting cocoa and coffee started in early 2014, but stalled for over one year due to the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in March 2014. These activities are now underway. About 1,250 cocoa/coffee farmers have already benefited from project activities including: extension through Farmer field schools, provision of tools, capacity building to establish or strengthen Farmers organizations that will play an active role in linking their members with input suppliers, buyers and financial institutions. By early 2016, a similar number of cocoa/coffee smallholders will be supported by the project.
Implementation of the rubber and oil palm revitalization component of the project has also now started. 150 smallholders members of the Todee Cooperative Society replanted their rubber farms in July 2015 in Montserrado County. About 75 smallholders near the Equatorial Palm Oil concession in Grand Bassa will start rehabilitating their oil palm trees early 2016. Management arrangements required to implement the rubber and oil palm revitalization activities are largely in place or being finalized.
Project institutional strengthening activities are also underway. They benefited the MoA County Agriculture Offices in targeted counties, the Cooperative Development Agency, the Environment Protection Agency, the Liberia Produce Marketing Corporation (that is being reformed), and the Land Commission for validation of land use rights at the community/family level.
Due to the start-up delays and the EVD outbreak, implementation is behind schedule and the Project would benefit from a 2-year extension (until December 31, 2018), as requested by the Government of Liberia, to achieve its project development objectives. The MTR mission noted the continuing strong support of the Government and project stakeholders and reconfirmed the relevance of its development objectives. The World Bank is currently examining this extension request and recommendation of the MTR mission.
The mission’s main findings and recommendations, summarized in an Aide-memoire, were discussed with Agriculture Minister Dr Moses Zinnah and Hon. Mounir Siaplay, Deputy Minister for Economic Management at a wrap-up meeting held on November 13, 2015. A detailed action plan was agreed with the project management unit. The disclosable version of the Aide Memoire is available at the World Bank external website.
FAO supports MOA and World Bank’s efforts in revitalizing Smallholder Tree Crop Sector
8 January 2016, 3:51 pm Written by Marc Fantinet
A STCRSP-supported cocoa farmer (far left) dries cocoa produced on an elevated scaffold in Boe Town, Cavalla District, Grand Gedeh County.
Photo Credit: Guest Contributor
FAO recently participated in the Mid-Term Review of the Liberia Smallholder Tree Crop Revitalization Support Project (STCRSP) implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and funded by the World Bank.
FAO has been heavily involved in supporting the Government of Liberia and the World Bank in designing this project first in 2010-2012 and then its start-up and implementation in 2013-2014.
The main objectives of the Mid-Term Review were to assess implementation progress since the project inception and to identify issues and agree on potential adjustments to project implementation. The mission visited Liberia during the period November 2 to 13, 2015. It held meetings with the Project Management Unit of MoA, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and project implementing partners (Environmental Protection Agency, Cooperative Development Agency, Afriland First Bank Liberia, SOCODEVI, concessionaires and NGOs). The mission made field visits to four counties where it met participating cocoa, coffee, rubber and oil palm farmers and implementation partners.
The project’s development objective is “to increase access to finance, inputs, technologies and markets for smallholder tree crop farmers in Liberia, and to develop a long term development program for the tree crops sector”. The STCRSP was initially planned for implementation over a period of four years, starting in 2013, in six of the country’s main tree crop producing counties (Montserrado, Margibi, Grand Bassa, Bong, Nimba and Grand Gedeh). It targets smallholder farmers and focuses on a limited number of project areas to ensure visibility and impact.
The Mid-Term Review rated the overall performance of the Project as moderately satisfactory. After some delay, during start-up, implementation of the main tree crop revitalization activities targeting cocoa and coffee started in early 2014, but stalled for over one year due to the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in March 2014. These activities are now underway. About 1,250 cocoa/coffee farmers have already benefited from project activities including: extension through Farmer field schools, provision of tools, capacity building to establish or strengthen Farmers organizations that will play an active role in linking their members with input suppliers, buyers and financial institutions. By early 2016, a similar number of cocoa/coffee smallholders will be supported by the project.
Implementation of the rubber and oil palm revitalization component of the project has also now started. 150 smallholders members of the Todee Cooperative Society replanted their rubber farms in July 2015 in Montserrado County. About 75 smallholders near the Equatorial Palm Oil concession in Grand Bassa will start rehabilitating their oil palm trees early 2016. Management arrangements required to implement the rubber and oil palm revitalization activities are largely in place or being finalized.
Project institutional strengthening activities are also underway. They benefited the MoA County Agriculture Offices in targeted counties, the Cooperative Development Agency, the Environment Protection Agency, the Liberia Produce Marketing Corporation (that is being reformed), and the Land Commission for validation of land use rights at the community/family level.
Due to the start-up delays and the EVD outbreak, implementation is behind schedule and the Project would benefit from a 2-year extension (until December 31, 2018), as requested by the Government of Liberia, to achieve its project development objectives. The MTR mission noted the continuing strong support of the Government and project stakeholders and reconfirmed the relevance of its development objectives. The World Bank is currently examining this extension request and recommendation of the MTR mission.
The mission’s main findings and recommendations, summarized in an Aide-memoire, were discussed with Agriculture Minister Dr Moses Zinnah and Hon. Mounir Siaplay, Deputy Minister for Economic Management at a wrap-up meeting held on November 13, 2015. A detailed action plan was agreed with the project management unit. The disclosable version of the Aide Memoire is available at the World Bank external website.