Achieving SDGs 1 & 2 requires substantial increase in agricultural investment

Key actors in the agriculture and food security sectors convened during the week to highlight innovative approach to increase responsible investment in agriculture and food systems, which is essential for the achievement of the first two of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of eradicating hunger and poverty by 2030. 

The high-level event, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), was convened to launch the project “Enhancing the enabling environment for responsible agriculture investment and food systems.” This project aims at supporting the application of the CFS Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI)in the national institutional frameworks, policies, laws and incentives in Liberia. This project is financed by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany. 

The CFS-RAI is the first global agreement that defines how to enhance and carry out responsible investment, which are investments that contribute to sustainable development, and bring benefits to all actors involved, including communities, farmers, investors and the broader environment. 

During the event, policymakers including senior officials of government (legislature and executive), civil society organizations, private sector actors and representatives from various universities and the media highlighted key challenges faced by the agriculture sector, and proffered recommendations, and ways forward that will strengthen policies and regulations to improve the enabling environment for responsible agricultural investment.   

In her address, Mariatou Njie, FAO Representative in Liberia, said achieving the SDGs of eradicating hunger and poverty requires substantial increase in agricultural investments. “As the UN Resident Coordinator highlighted, the eradication of poverty and hunger in Liberia by 2030 requires additional annual investments of 2.5 billion USD, of which more than 50% should target the agricultural and sub agri-business sectors in rural areas.” 

She averred that building on the successful capacity development programmes on land-based investment in Liberia carried out by FAO and others, the project will be an opportunity to further strengthen capacities of policy makers. ”This project will include other relevant issues of responsible investment in agriculture such as youth agro- entrepreneurship and employment, decent work, food security, gender issues, and environment.”

In addition, the FAO Representative disclosed that the enabling environment – which considers the institutional, legal, policy and incentives frameworks – is one of the main determinants of the volumes and outcomes of agricultural investment. “Based on this, FAO, with support from Germany, which has always shown commitment to the application of products of the Committee on World Food Security, is supporting the creation of such an enabling environment in three countries: Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Lao People Democratic Republic.”

Addressing the challenge of food insecurity

According to the Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Gunter Plambeck, “in spite of the enormous technical progress we have witnessed during the last few decades, problems facing mankind and, of course, womankind as well are not decreasing but rather increasing, confronting us with new challenges and recurrences of old or even ancient challenges as well.”

He added that two of these challenges are population growth and climate change, and both of them are likely to affect food security on the planet in the medium and long term. “A growing population will require more food, whereas changing climate will tend to have a negative effect on food production by causing drought in some areas and flooding in others,” he added.

Plambeck added that Liberia was selected because of its vast but largely untapped agricultural potential. Having good soil and plenty rainfall in much of the country, Liberia could not only easily feed its own population, but become the breadbasket of much of West Africa as well.

Pa Lamin Beyai, Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme in Liberia, speaking on behalf of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Liberia, noted that the transformation of food systems is key to tackling the challenges facing the world today. He emphasized that agriculture has the potential to address the demographic pressure, increase economic growth, reduce social inequality and combat climate change. 

In addition, he said addressing these challenges requires substantial and responsible investment, which has positive social, economic, and environmental impact.

According to Mr Beyai, “increasing responsible investment in agriculture and food systems is key to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG-1 ‘end poverty’ in all its form everywhere and SDG-2, ‘end hunger’ and achieving food security and improve nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture.”

Government committed to achieving SDGs 1 & 2

Deputy Agriculture Minister for Planning and Development, Robert K. Fagans, said the government is committed to adhere to the international instruments that will improve the agriculture sector of Liberia.

He noted that addressing the four dimensions of food security and nutrition - availability, access, stability, and utilization – requires a significant increase in responsible investment in agriculture and food systems. 

He also called on state actors to direct more support to smallholder producers, which according to him, are major contributors to food production in the country. 

Minister Fagans mentioned that the Government of Liberia recognizes the significant role that FAO plays to buttress the government development priorities through agriculture development.  

Also speaking, Tanneh G. Brunson, Deputy Minister for Budget and Development Planning, Ministry of Finance & Development Planning, pointed out that agriculture and food systems comprise a range of activities involved in the production, marketing, consumption, and disposal of goods that originate from crops, livestock, fisheries including aquaculture, and forestry as well as inputs and outputs of each of these steps. 

“While the agricultural sector represents a relatively low percentage of the total investments in the country, there is an urgent need for enhancement of investment in agriculture in order to achieve the SDGs, in particular 1 and 2”, she added.

Madam Brunson disclosed that the Government of Liberia has developed several policies for agriculture, food security and nutrition but these policies and programmes have been unsustainable due to low capacities. “Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, economic and social access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life”, she said. 

Next Steps for the Project 

As outlined by FAO, the next steps of the project include conducting a baseline study to establish what the situation in Liberia is for responsible investment in agriculture; carrying out capacity development for policymakers on the requirements of responsible investment in agriculture; foster dialogue among civil society actors to enhance their advocacy capacity; and promote multi-stakeholder dialogue on the challenges and opportunities to strengthen policies, laws and incentives.