In an effort to resuscitate the research station and strengthen its human resource capacity, the Indian Ambassador accredited near Monrovia, His Excellency, Ambassador Pradit Kumar Yadav expresses optimism for future collaboration with the Central Agricultural Research Center in Bong County, Liberia.

The Indian diplomat made the statement in June 2022 when he visited the research institute to acquaint himself with the challenges facing the facilities at CARI.

Ambassador Yadav remarks that: “India has so many institutes that are specialized in rice production that are willing to collaborate with the Central Agricultural Research Institute here in Liberia. India is an agrarian country with arable land that is 5% relatively low.”

According to the Indian diplomat, the essence of the collaboration is to improve Liberia`s research capabilities so as to improve the quality of crops, seeds, and fertilizers, as well as the country`s irrigation practices.

The Ambassador iterates: “We have prestigious agricultural research in India to improve agriculture and make it more sustainable in Liberia. India looks forward to enhancing cooperation by entering into a memorandum of understanding for agricultural research so that in the future India and Liberia can work together in setting up a crude palm oil program at CARI and other institutions to improve and enhance the cultivation and production of palm oil, cocoa, coffee, rubber, and the fishery sectors. We look forward to future cooperation in fisheries, rice research, and coming up with new varieties of rice, crops, and seeds.”

Ambassador Pradit Kumar Yadav had envisaged that since Liberia could be a major exporting country in the future, he challenged CARI to draft one memorandum of understanding for the calendar year of 2022, and a separate one that would cover training at any of the listed 64 universities in India. “Last year, 3021, the government of India officially opened its embassy to extend our cooperation with Liberia, focusing on agriculture, farmers, and industries. We have met with folks from the Ministry of Agriculture. Some of CARI`s scientists met with us at our embassy and we discussed on collaborating with Liberia`s agriculture sector.”

Providing some statistics, the Indian diplomat eludes that ”Rice is a staple for Liberia and it is a top export from India, accounting for US$126.34 million, and US$124.71 million (45%-50% in recent years) in export to Liberia.”

“Aside from timber”, Ambassador Yadav adds: “Though animals and vegetables need further cooperation, but palm oil export which accounts for US$5.5 million, needs to be substantially increased.”

Earlier in an overview last year, CARI Head of Crops Program, Dr. James S. Dolo indicating that with the exception of the cassava laboratory, the research station is not well equipped, highlighting the lack of electricity supply.

Dr. Dolo reemphasizes limited human resources to carry out the strategic plan of the institution, lack of functional farm equipment and machinery, including tractors, power tillers, threshers, planters, and mills; and mentorship programs for young scientists to study at foreign institutions, as challenges and constraints facing the research station.

The Head of Crops Program further makes known that planting materials including seeds, gene bank, storage, training, and lack of professionals with terminal academic degrees in breeding, are also major challenges at CARI.

According to Dr. Dolo, CARI has a land area of 1,875 acres, with forest land for apiculture that lies along the artificial dam that covers almost three hectares. “While is true that there are water resources for irrigation and fish farming with improved crop varieties, including rice, cassava, and maize, among others, human resource capacity at the research station remains very low.