China sends 24 experts to support implementation of Liberia's National Program for Food Security (Linked to Record ID#35267, Umbrella #87769)

In November 2011, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) co-signed two new tripartite agreements with China, Liberia and Senegal respectively to support implementation of a series of food security initiatives and projects in Liberia and Senegal.

The funding provided through the new agreement comes from the China Ministry of Agriculture through the FAO-China Trust Fund (see Umbrella Record ID#87769).

Under the agreement with Liberia, China contributed over $1 million USD (#35267) and provided technical assistance through 24 Chinese experts and technicians to support Liberia's National Program for Food Security over a two-year period. The Chinese South-South Cooperation (SSC) team arrived at Liberia in May 2012 and left in April 2014.

The Chinese team cooperated with the Liberian Ministry of Agriculture in rice production, animal husbandry, aquaculture, vegetable production, plant protection, farm machinery, water conservancy and so on.

There are 5 experts and 19 technicians in total, specifically, 1 expert in agriculture industrialization and management, 3 experts in rice production, 1 expert in aquaculture, 3 technicians in vegetable production, 1 technician in rice production, 2 technicians in horticulture, 3 technicians in plant protection, 5 technicians in animal husbandry, 2 technicians in aquaculture, 2 technicians in agriculture machinery and 1 technician in water conservancy.

The Chinese SSC team was deployed in 5 duty stations, namely, Klay in Bomi county (1 expert, 3 technicians), Cari in Bong county(1 expert, 5 technicians), Tumutu (1 expert, 3 technicians), Centre Songhai in Montserrado county(1 expert, 3 technicians), and Measuagoon in Cape Mount county(4 technicians).

In two years, the Chinese SSC team has introduced and transferred 92 appropriate and effective technologies, introduced 33 new varieties of crops, such as vegetables, corn and seedless watermelon etc., carried out 24 pilot demonstrations, developed and delivered 6261 copies of training manuals, and carried out practical and theoretical training 743 times.

The Chinese team trained 38 Liberian counterparts and 1,395 farmers and technicians. The number of beneficiaries, including farmers and technicians, reached 1,547.