Greenbelt, Maryland: A prominent Liberian journalist turned agripreneur, Madam Estelle Liberty, has called on Liberians at home and in the diaspora to put more trust and confidence in locally produced goods. She believes that doing so will help strengthen the economy, create jobs, and support the country’s farmers and small businesses.
Speaking at the 13th National Conference of the Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA) in Greenbelt, Maryland, Madam Liberty encouraged Liberians to prioritize homegrown products such as Liberica coffee, Moringa tea, and Liberian pure honey. She explained that supporting local farmers and entrepreneurs is essential for sustainable growth.
“We cannot build a strong economy when we don’t trust our own,” Madam Liberty said. “Liberians should start consuming and promoting our locally produced goods. When we buy local, we are investing in our own future.”
Local Products with Global Value
Agriculture remains Liberia’s largest employer, providing income for more than 60 percent of the population. Yet the country still spends more than 200 million U.S. dollars each year importing food, including products that can be produced locally. Experts say redirecting even part of this spending to local goods would directly improve rural livelihoods, strengthen domestic industries, and reduce dependence on foreign imports.
Liberia’s Liberica coffee, grown in counties such as Lofa, Nimba, and Bong, is one of the world’s rarest coffee varieties. Moringa, often called a “miracle plant,” has gained international attention for its high nutritional value. Liberian honey, known for its purity and natural flavor, is also attracting growing interest from international organic markets.
Building Confidence in the Private Sector
Madam Liberty emphasized that consumer confidence in local products is critical to empowering the private sector and boosting employment. She believes the country can create thousands of jobs if Liberians begin to embrace and support what is produced at home.
“When Liberians trust their own, they create markets for farmers, women’s groups, and small business owners. That’s how we create opportunities and empower communities,” she said.
Official figures show that more than 70 percent of agribusinesses in Liberia are owned by Liberians. Most of them are small and medium-sized enterprises that often struggle to grow because consumers prefer imported goods.
A National Mindset Shift
She also called on the government, business community, and media to promote a “Buy Liberian” culture. She noted that other African countries have successfully increased domestic production and created stronger economies by encouraging their citizens to support local industries.
Madam Liberty reminded the audience that the Liberian diaspora contributes more than 400 million U.S. dollars in remittances each year. She urged Liberians living abroad to help expand the market for local goods by buying from Liberian producers and promoting export opportunities.
The ALJA conference brought together journalists, media executives, business owners, and community leaders from across the United States. The gathering explored ways the media can help drive national development, with agriculture emerging as a major focus. Madam Liberty shared her own journey from journalism to agribusiness and described agriculture as a foundation for national security.
“We must believe in the quality of what we produce,” she said. “If other countries can export their tea, coffee, and honey to us, then we can trust our own and export to them as well.”
✅ Editor’s Note: Agriculture is one of the priority areas in Liberia’s ARREST Agenda (Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism). Encouraging Liberians to buy and promote local products is considered an important step toward building a stronger and more self-reliant economy.
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