On January 15, 2026, CERATH Development Organisation (CDO) joined partners, government officials, the European Union Delegation to Liberia, farmer cooperatives, agribusinesses, and civil society actors at the EU Delegation headquarters in Monrovia for the Closure and Learning Event of the Cassava Transformation Project (CASTRAP).
Over 50 participants reflected on the project’s achievements, challenges, and lessons learned. Key dignitaries present at the event included Hon. Moses R. Gbanyan, Deputy Minister for Regional Development, Research & Extension (speaking on behalf of Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah), and Maria Winnubst, representing the EU Delegation. Both reaffirmed government and donor commitment to sustaining Liberia’s cassava sector.
Key milestones achieved by the project includes licensing of 10 farmer cooperatives with 1,063 members (including women, youth, and PwDs), distribution of 577,631 improved cassava cuttings and establishment of 24 demonstration farms. Additionally, yields increased from 2.7 MT/ha in 2021 to 15.66 MT/ha in 2025, establishment of 13 integrated processing centers, including a flagship incubation hub in Sinoe County, training of nearly 300 processors in food safety and quality management, with several enterprises earning National Quality Awards, and formation of 29 VSLAs, mobilizing 49.5 million Liberian dollars in savings and disbursing 52.4 million in loans with 100% recovery.
In his remarks, CERATH Liberia Country Director Leroy N. S. Kanmoh praised the project communities for their resilience, noting that cassava has become “a pathway to dignity, resilience, and opportunity.”
As CASTRAP closes, its legacy continues through certified cooperatives, strengthened quality infrastructure, and community-driven innovation. CERATH West Africa Director Paa Kofi Osei-Owusu reaffirmed CERATH’s commitment to building on these foundations and extending support to more counties in Liberia.
