Urban Agriculture in and Around Monrovia, Liberia
Urban Agriculture in and around Monrovia, Liberia
Timothy Kortu
Since the end of the war that raged from 1989 to
2003, Liberia has suffered from chronic food insecure and basic socio-economic infrastructure. Urban urban poverty, improve food security and enhance urban waste management in Monrovia and other Liberian cities. Recently the government acknowledging food security in the country.
rity, due to the destruction of its agricultural sector agriculture provides a strategy to help reduce
edged the importance of urban agriculture in
Agriculture has always been the key to food security in both urban and rural areas of Liberia. Before the conflict, approximately 80 percent of the people of Liberia derived their livelihoods from farming alone. After the civil war and decades of predatory regimes, Liberia today is one of the most food-insecure countries in the world, with one third of the population undernourished and over 75 percent living below the universally established poverty line of 1 USD per day. It is ranked as one of the lowest countries in the UNDP Human Development Report, which covers various sector including employment, income, health, education, gender equality and child welfare (UNDP, 2007). The interim Poverty Reduction Strategy of Liberia (2007) highlights agriculture as one of the major economic sectors that has the potential to resuscitate the economy and create significant job opportunities that could make an impact in addressing the high unemployment.
ers who were demobilized in Liberia and a huge population of war-affected people including IDPs, repatriates and rural families who migrated to Monrovia in order to escape poverty. Many of these migrants were farmers before coming to Monrovia, but lack the basic skills necessary to secure employment in other sectors. The education gap experienced by most Liberian youths has also created a significant dearth of
Timothy Kortu
Since the end of the war that raged from 1989 to
2003, Liberia has suffered from chronic food insecure and basic socio-economic infrastructure. Urban urban poverty, improve food security and enhance urban waste management in Monrovia and other Liberian cities. Recently the government acknowledging food security in the country.
rity, due to the destruction of its agricultural sector agriculture provides a strategy to help reduce
edged the importance of urban agriculture in
Agriculture has always been the key to food security in both urban and rural areas of Liberia. Before the conflict, approximately 80 percent of the people of Liberia derived their livelihoods from farming alone. After the civil war and decades of predatory regimes, Liberia today is one of the most food-insecure countries in the world, with one third of the population undernourished and over 75 percent living below the universally established poverty line of 1 USD per day. It is ranked as one of the lowest countries in the UNDP Human Development Report, which covers various sector including employment, income, health, education, gender equality and child welfare (UNDP, 2007). The interim Poverty Reduction Strategy of Liberia (2007) highlights agriculture as one of the major economic sectors that has the potential to resuscitate the economy and create significant job opportunities that could make an impact in addressing the high unemployment.
ers who were demobilized in Liberia and a huge population of war-affected people including IDPs, repatriates and rural families who migrated to Monrovia in order to escape poverty. Many of these migrants were farmers before coming to Monrovia, but lack the basic skills necessary to secure employment in other sectors. The education gap experienced by most Liberian youths has also created a significant dearth of
References: UNDP Human Development Report, 2007. Poverty Reduction Strategy of Liberia, 2007. World Food Programme, 2008: Food crisis assessment Liberia. Republic of Liberia, 2007. Greater Monrovia Food Security and Nutrition Survey (CFSNS), Monrovia, July 2007. Government of Liberia, June 2008. Response to Global Price Increases. Urban Agriculture magazine • number 21 • January 2009 www.ruaf.org