Monrovia, Liberia – In a significant step for Liberia’s agricultural sector, the Liberia Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (LACRA) and key players in the cocoa and coffee industry have officially set the farmgate prices for the 2025–2026 season. The announcement was made on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, during a one-day workshop held at the Clar Marie Weah Event Hall at the Center for National Documents and Records Agency on 12th Street in Monrovia.
The workshop, aimed at validating price models for cocoa and coffee, brought together government ministries, farmers, cooperatives, exporters, financial institutions, civil society groups, and international partners. The goal was not only to announce the prices but also to strengthen policies that promote fairness, competitiveness, and sustainability in the sector.
Key Decisions Made After presentations, discussions, and group work, stakeholders agreed on important steps to guide the cocoa and coffee sectors in the coming season.
Seasonal Fixed Pricing Model: A seasonal fixed pricing model was adopted to give farmers price stability while staying competitive. This model will be reviewed regularly to match global market changes. There was also a commitment to ensure farmers earn a living income, encourage quality production, support traceability, and help cooperatives meet international standards.
Farmer Education and Transparency: To help farmers understand the new prices, LACRA will create easy-to-understand materials and clear price breakdowns. This will be supported by strong data collection and sharing efforts.
Media Outreach Program: LACRA plans to start a farmer education program about cocoa and coffee awareness. It will air twice a month on ELBC Radio and other rural community radio stations, as well as through the Liberia Agriculture & Environmental Journalist Network, newspapers, and promotional jingles. This program aims to improve farmers’ knowledge of best practices, quality standards, and market opportunities.
Organic Cocoa and Coffee: Recognizing the growing demand for organic products, stakeholders agreed to include organic cocoa and coffee, along with their production methods, in future pricing discussions.
Farmgate Prices for 2025/2026: The workshop ended with the announcement of the official farmgate prices for the 2025–2026 season: Grade 1 Cocoa: USD 4.73 per kilogram, Grade, Cocoa: USD 3.54 per kilogram and Grade 3 Cocoa: USD 2.36 per kilogram
These prices are expected to give farmers more stable incomes and encourage higher-quality crops.
Stakeholders Praise the Effort LACRA Acting Director General Dan Saryee thanked everyone involved in the pricing process. He said the agreement shows a shared commitment to improving farmers’ lives and strengthening Liberia’s place in the global cocoa and coffee market.
“Today marks an important moment in our effort to make sure Liberian farmers earn fair pay for their hard work,” Saryee said. “This decision is about more than prices; it’s about empowering farming communities, improving quality, and ensuring sustainability for the future.”
Sheik Turay, President of the Liberia Cocoa and Coffee Exporters Association, called the initiative “a step in the right direction.” He said the agreed prices and education efforts will empower farmers and boost Liberia’s competitiveness internationally.
Looking Ahead The new resolutions are expected to improve the cocoa and coffee sectors, which are vital to Liberia’s agricultural economy. With better farmer education, focus on organic production, and fair pricing, many believe the sector is ready to grow.
As Liberia gets ready for the 2025–2026 harvest season, stakeholders are hopeful these measures will lead to higher productivity, better incomes for farmers, and stronger export earnings from cocoa and coffee.
