Agricultural Practices and Livelihoods

There were 7,193 agricultural communities sampled across Liberia’s fifteen counties. Most of the communities practiced rain-fed temporary crops cultivation. About 72 per cent of communities practiced this activity. Market gardening was practiced in more than half of the communities (54.4%).

Community Development and Facilities

The majority of Liberia Agricultural communities, 68.8 per cent (4,952) did not experience any new developments within the past three years before the data collection. Among the communities that experienced new developments, the most commonly reported developments include the provision of on-grid electricity (30.9%), construction of new roads (22.9%), and establishment of new schools (22.2%).

Livestock and Poultry

Two in four communities reported practice of poultry or livestock rearing. Poultry activities took place in 32.6 per cent of communities. Goats and Pigs were the two main types of livestock raised in communities. About 27.3 per cent of communities raised goats while 25.1 per cent of them raised pigs. Only 8.1 per cent of livestock or poultry communities had vaccination campaigns.

Access to Markets and Services

There are 57.1 per cent of communities having direct access to primary school, 3.3 per cent have direct access to hospitals and 34.4 per cent of them have access to the same infrastructure (hospitals) when nearby areas are considered. Also, 15.3 per cent of communities have direct access to food market for purchase and sales.

Challenges in Agricultural Activities

Crop disease and animal damage are the two most challenges faced by farmers in the communities. About 53.9 per cent of communities reported that crop disease is a major challenge for farmers while 46.2 per cent of communities reported animal demage as a major challenge.

Extreme Natural Events or Disaster

The most frequently reported disaster was extreme winds or storms, affecting 72.6 per cent of communities, followed by flood/erosion, which affected 48.3 per cent of communities, while lack of water (Dry Spell) and floods were the two most environmental concerns expressed by communities, 27.9 per cent and 19.6 per cent, respectively.

Environmental Concerns

About 58.7% of the Agriculture communities in Liberia expressed some form of environmental concern. Lack of water (dry spells) and floods were the two main environmental concerns reported by communities, expressed by 27.9% and 19.6%, respectively. Land degradation affects 15.6% of communities, with severe impacts noted in Rivercess County. Desertification is reported by 19.3% of communities, and farmland abandonment was reported in 21.3% of communities. About 10.6% of communities have agricultural land located within officially protected or preserved areas while only 8.9% of communities reported to have forest or wooded land under sustainable management. Over a fifth of communities suffered from environmental contamination