This data story is based on research conducted for the study Regional Collaboration on Overcoming Binding Constraints on the Growth of Liberia’s Cocoa Value Chain
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Years of civil war and the 2014 Ebola epidemic took a significant toll on the country’s cocoa output. In recent years, the government and its partners have attempted to revive the sector
Liberian cocoa production is low compared to other producers, and Liberian cocoa farmers are producing barely 20 percent of their potential. There are many opportunities for process and product upgrading in the country’s cocoa sector
Land preparation and seed costs are very high in Liberia, which might discourage planting of new trees
Meanwhile, farmers spend relatively little on pesticides and use extremely minimal modern inputs, which leaves farmers more vulnerable to pests and disease
A positive finding is that the Liberian cocoa value chain is largely competitive, with value capture spread relatively fairly
A survey of 179 cocoa farmers in the Bong, Lofa, and Nimba counties of Liberia revealed the key challenges facing the sector
Old and increasingly unproductive trees are a big concern: more than half of cocoa trees were planted over 9 years ago
The overwhelming majority of cocoa farmers lack access to both pesticides and fertilizer, which helps explain low yields and a high risk of pests
The survey also uncovered the main sources of information, finance, income, and inputs available in the sector
There is a strong reliance on traditional sources of financing, with minimal involvement of the formal financial sector
However, a significant proportion of farmers would like to be able to access financing from banks, microfinance, and credit institutions
While virtually no farmers access information through the media or the internet, few farmers expressed a desire to do so
Innovations and interventions can make the cocoa sector a driver of transformation in Liberia
Thank you for this insight on challenges cocoa farmers faced in Liberia. Your report has exposed me to the kind of preparation I need to make as I begin the planting of my cocoa. I do agree with your data and information provided as regards the constraints the sector faces. What resources available for cocoa farmer like located in Margibi County? And how can I access those resources if there are any?