President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has said Liberia can only attain food security through large-scale mechanized farming and agro-industrial operations which focus on emerging small and medium size entities.

President Sirleaf observed that Liberia as an agrarian nation must increasingly shift to agriculture to ensure that the nation moves away from the old system of enclave extractive industries.

“We must aim at a higher potential for impact and export diversification through stimulation of production in a select few of our traditional tree crops such as rubber, oil palm and cocoa,” the Liberian leader said Wednesday in a nation-wide address from her office in Monrovia.

She reminded Liberians that the private sector must become the driving force of the economy with Liberia’s entrepreneurs playing their rightful role, adding, “This can only be achieved with the support of Liberians by promoting and buying products made in Liberia as well as through the payment of rightful taxes.”

President Sirleaf then pledged her government’s commitment in doing its part in establishing a peaceful and easy business environment by reducing bureaucratic hurdles and at the same time ensuring that tax regimes are fair and allow businesses to expand.

She added that government also remains committed to improving the infrastructure required for business success in the country.