Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MONROVIA154
2008-02-28 10:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Monrovia
Cable title:  

LIBERIA: PESTS and AGOA: SPS STRUCTURE ESSENTIAL FOR

Tags:  EAGR EAID ECON ETRD LI 
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VZCZCXRO9598
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHMV #0154/01 0591024
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 281024Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9795
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MONROVIA 000154 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W
DAKAR FOR APHIS FRENCH
LAGOS FOR USDA ABDI
USDA/FAS FOR JUDITH PHILLIPS
USDA/FAS FOR RON VERDONK

E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID ECON ETRD LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: PESTS and AGOA: SPS STRUCTURE ESSENTIAL FOR
AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MONROVIA 000154

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W
DAKAR FOR APHIS FRENCH
LAGOS FOR USDA ABDI
USDA/FAS FOR JUDITH PHILLIPS
USDA/FAS FOR RON VERDONK

E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID ECON ETRD LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: PESTS and AGOA: SPS STRUCTURE ESSENTIAL FOR
AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS


1. (SBU) Summary: The GOL is counting on agricultural exports,
including timber projects, to jump-start the economic recovery. In
meetings with GOL officials, USDA and APHIS regional representatives
made it clear that an effective and internationally recognized
sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) system is an essential prerequisite
for food or agriculture exports and an important safeguard for the
domestic agricultural sector. The visitors also met with private
sector traders in agricultural products to learn of commercial
constraints and obstacles, discussed with USAID counterparts ways to
better coordinate complementary programs, and visited Liberia's
veterinary lab. Recovery of Liberia's agricultural sector and
growth in exports depends on the creation of a robust sanitary and
phytosanitary regime and rationalization of overall trade
regulations. End summary.


2. (SBU) Responding to a request made by Minister of Agriculture
Christopher Toe, USDA Attache Ali Abdi, resident in Lagos, and APHIS
Regional Director Assistant Dr. Cheryl French, based in Dakar,
visited Monrovia the week of January 28 to discuss SPS and trade
issues. Dr. French received a solid overview of the state of the
GOL's initiatives with regard to SPS and ways to coordinate with
other partners, such as the FAO. She encouraged Liberia to
participate in international standards-setting organizations and
regional bodies and suggested APHIS could provide quick assistance
in compiling a pest list.


3. (SBU) In addition to three meetings with the Ministry of
Agriculture (with the Minister, the Deputy Minister for Planning,
and technical experts),and with the Forestry Development Agency to
sound them out on the state of SPS systems as Liberia resumes timber
exports, the pair met with officials in the Ministry of Commerce
Office of Foreign Trade and with representatives of the private
sector who trade, or will potentially trade, in agricultural
products and equipment. Abdi was also able to meet with USDA's
implementing agency Visions In Action and discuss with USAID

counterparts and GOL officials ways in which USDA's food aid and
monetization programs could be better integrated into complementary
programs. Dr. French visited the FAO lab and toured a large farm
outside Monrovia.

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE ON BOARD, BUT NEEDS HELP
-------------- --------------


4. (SBU) The Ministry of Agriculture is engaged, from the top, on
the need to establish SPS regulations and systems and then train and
develop its staff in regulatory functions. Agriculture Minister
Christopher Toe noted that SPS legislation either does not exist or
is decades out of date. Dr. French stressed a priority should be
determining the plant and animal disease status of Liberia, and
offered APHIS assistance in developing a national pest list for
Liberia. She urged that Liberia take part in international,
especially regional, SPS standards-setting bodies.


5. (SBU) Deputy Minister for Planning James Logan noted his ministry
has completed a comprehensive agricultural sector assessment, with
draft recommendations for the top priorities for Liberia's poverty
reduction strategy. They are:


A. Inputs for the sector (he is very concerned),both traditional
and non-traditional. (Note: The nature of the Deputy Minister's
specific concern was not clear. End note.)


B. Agriculture Ministry capacity-building: they need statistics
and a monitoring framework.


C. Capacity-building for farmer-based organizations.


D. Full exploitation of Liberia's abundant paddy rice production
assets to produce rice for food self-sufficiency and for export.
(Only 2% of possible sites are currently utilized. He acknowledged
there needs to be an environmental assessment.)


E. Post-harvest/value-added measures, such as upgrading rice
threshers. Logan explained the GOL should provide farm to market
roads and regional storage locations so the private sector can do
the rest.


6. (SBU) Dr. French noted that APHIS receives a small fee from
travelers entering the United States to cover some SPS
implementation (agricultural quarantine inspection fees),and
suggested the GOL could consider a similar program.


7. (SBU) Ministry officials requested inspection equipment for

MONROVIA 00000154 002 OF 003


border posts and confirmed they have no plant protection bureau
(just plant quarantine) and no agricultural research station. They
would like to establish four labs (one in each region of the
country),receive international training, and receive help with
veterinarian services. As an initial step, they need to develop SPS
structure and policy in coordination with other GOL agencies. Dr.
French agreed to provide copies of information on planning and
staff. She urged them to submit specific requests via the Embassy,
but noted the importance of clear coordination to avoid duplication
of effort with other donors. APHIS plans to work closely with the
FAO on establishing Liberia's SPS regime. Abdi also informed the
Deputy Minister of the upcoming Agricultural trade mission to Accra
and invited the Ministry to propose candidates for the Cochrane
Fellowships.

Action items:
--------------

-- The Ministry of Agriculture will provide name and contact
information for Liberia's SPS Inquiry Point.

-- The Ministry will provide a copy of the national agricultural
policy, currently in draft form, and Dr. French will provide APHIS's
strategy.

-- The Ministry will send a letter to the Embassy, for transmittal
to APHIS, requesting assistance in establishing the pest list.

-- Dr. French requested a skills list of Ministry employees to
assist APHIS in targeting training opportunities. USAID will
provide three long-term technical advisors to support Ministry of
Agriculture policy and institutional development. Through this
technical assistance program, SPS could be addressed.

-- Dr. French will forward APHIS information on changes in SPS
regulations.

-- Abdi sought input from USAID and Minister Toe on suitable
candidates' for USDA's Cochrane Fellowships.


Forestry Development Agency: SPS and Timber Exports
-------------- --------------

8. (SBU) UN sanctions on Liberian timber were removed in 2006, which
has opened the door to resumption of exports. At the Forestry
Development Agency, Dr. French explained to officials responsible
for commercial forestry the urgency of establishing
internationally-recognized SPS procedures as a prerequisite to
exports and to protect Liberia's forest and agricultural resources.
She agreed to provide them with information on ISPM 15 and CITES
restrictions for imports to the United States. Noting their close
working relationship with U.S. Forest Service experts, the FDA
officials welcomed any assistance the USG could provide in SPS
issues.

Ag Trade Remains Murky
--------------

9. (SBU) During meetings with Ministry of Commerce officials
responsible for Foreign Trade it became clear that simplification of
GOL trade procedures is essential. Although GOL officials recognize
the role of the Ministries of Agriculture and of Health in ensuring
the safety of goods imported to or exported from Liberia, there
remains an unacceptable level of discretion in the system.


10. (SBU) The MCI officials showed us a booklet on trade regulations
that is being revised but did not have available printed copies of
existing regulations or procedures. (Note: In a conversation
February 4, the Minister of Commerce told Econoff the booklet is
being revised, will be re-issued soon, and that they plan to
establish a web site that will include all trade-related
information. End note.)


11. (SBU) The MCI officials further explained that although trade
statistics for 2007 have been compiled, they have not yet been
published. The Director for Foreign Trade, while discussing food
safety, made an off-hand comment that he was sure the GOL would have
problems with GMOs, but clearly had very little understanding of
what the term covered.

Private Sector - not quite at full potential
--------------

12. (SBU) Abdi and French met potential importers and exporters over
lunch to discuss the upcoming Agricultural Trade Mission to Accra

MONROVIA 00000154 003 OF 003


and general issues affecting trade in agricultural products.
Liberian producers have not yet reached a level of quality where
they can compete on the international market, but the meeting
provided useful information on the measures, such as SPS standards,
that will be necessary to export successfully.


13. (SBU) The participants, who included farmers, members of farm
cooperatives, and importers of grocery products, cited the
increasing cost of imports, the difficulties caused by lack of
direct air transport from most markets, and the inefficiencies of
the GOL's pre-shipment inspection contractors. Sample prices
include $8 per kilo for hatching eggs from Holland, and $31 per bag
for chicken feed. Farmers cannot buy feed and other inputs on an
as-needed basis, as they must be prepared for long delays (of at
least three weeks) between ship arrivals. The complex and arbitrary
import regulations affect the agricultural sector as they do all
others.


14. (SBU) The lack of veterinarians was cited as an obstacle. There
are two in Liberia, both in Monrovia and neither of whom practices
regularly. One farmer has a vet in Ghana on contract, and e-mails
photos of her distressed livestock for remote diagnosis, a procedure
that is not helpful for urgent or serious problems. The state-owned
Liberia Produce Marketing Corporation (LPMC) also hampers
productivity and exports. The LPMC sets a price (for cocoa, for
example) for delivery at the port of Monrovia. Given the high cost
of transport within Liberia, farmers earn 5 Liberian dollars a kilo
(about 10 cents U.S.) compared to US$70 a kilo in Guinea and Sierra
Leone, which leads to smuggling of much of the crop. We were told
the GOL may allow one cocoa cooperative to export directly, as a
pilot program, rather than being required to sell to LPMC. It was
clear that recovery of Liberia's agricultural sector depends on
rationalization of overall trade regulations.

USDA Food Aid Projects
--------------

15. (SBU) USDA Attache Abdi visited Visions in Action(VIA),for an
orientation into their Liberia projects. VIA uses funds from USDA
Food for Education Program to conduct teacher training programs.
(The representative for USDA's other partner, ACDI/VOCA, arrived
after the conclusion of the visit.) In discussion of USDA programs
and implementing partners, Deputy Minister Logan acknowledged there
could be better communication between them and the Ministry. He
noted the GOL is considering re-activating the Rice Commission to
avoid import problems such as the one encountered by U.S.-donated
rice last year.


16. (SBU) Abdi met with USAID's Economic Growth and the Education
officers during his visit, and confirmed USDA will provide
resources, such as the Cochrane fellowships, in enhancing Mission
Monrovia objectives. USAID officials explained the problems that
had arisen last year due to obtaining government clearance for the
importation of rice. Abdi committed to reminding both VIA and
ACDI/VOCA of their obligation to coordinate with the Embassy and
with the Ministries on proposed for rice imports and planned
education programs.


17. (SBU) Comment: Liberia is counting on the agriculture and
forestry sectors to provide early impetus to its economic recovery
and Poverty Reduction Strategy. However, an effective and
internationally recognized SPS system is essential to permit exports
and protect domestic industry. The ministry of Agriculture will be
the lead agency, but others, including the Ministry of Commerce, the
Ministry of Health, and the Legislature, will have to be closely
involved. The USG is completing renovation of the building that
will house a national lab (UNIDO is providing the equipment). There
is also an urgent need for training and capacity building, as well
as exposure to the current state of SPS regulation and monitoring
after a 14-year absence from the international standards
community,.

ROBINSON