Mainland Group Announces US$100 Million Investment In Liberia’s Agriculture Sector

In a landmark development for the West African nation’s economy, the Mainland Group, a prominent Chinese conglomerate with a vast portfolio of investments across the continent, has announced a significant US$100 million initiative to revitalize Liberia’s agriculture industry. The announcement, made by Mr. Zhu Chen, the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, during a live press conference at the Ministry of Agriculture, signals a new era of large-scale private sector engagement aimed at tackling Liberia’s long-standing challenges of food security and rural poverty.

The investment is structured around six strategic areas, each designed to boost value addition and create a more integrated agricultural value chain. These include cassava processing for starch, rice processing facilities, cocoa processing to add value to locally grown beans, coffee processing, the development of a sugar refinery with its own sugarcane plantations, and the creation of essential warehouse and logistics infrastructure near key port areas. This comprehensive approach is poised to move Liberia from a subsistence farming model to a more commercial and self-sufficient agricultural economy.

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The Mainland Group: A Global Player with Deep African Roots

The Mainland Group is not a new player in the African market. As one of China’s leading agro-industrial firms, it has established a significant presence across multiple countries, leveraging its expertise in agricultural value chains. The company’s portfolio includes investments in countries such as Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, and Mozambique. One of its most notable ventures is in neighboring Côte d’Ivoire, where it operates five factories that collectively produce an impressive 450,000 tonnes of rubber annually.

This track record demonstrates the group’s capacity for large-scale, long-term investments that integrate production, processing, and logistics. By bringing this model to Liberia, the Mainland Group aims to generate jobs, expand markets for local farmers, and enhance the nation’s food security. This investment also fits into the broader context of growing Sino-African economic cooperation, where Chinese companies are increasingly encouraged by their government to invest in Africa’s agricultural sector to support development and ensure a stable supply of resources.

Liberia’s Agricultural Sector: Challenges and the Promise of Transformation

Liberia, often referred to as the “Copper State,” is also a nation rich in agricultural potential. However, its agricultural sector, which employs a significant portion of the population, has historically been held back by a series of systemic challenges. Decades of civil conflict, coupled with limited infrastructure, have left the country heavily reliant on food imports, particularly for its staple, rice.

According to a World Bank report, Liberia produces only about one-third of the rice it consumes. The annual demand for rice is estimated at 650,000 tonnes, while domestic production stands at around 240,000 tonnes. This leaves a significant deficit that must be filled by imports, making the country vulnerable to fluctuations in global food prices. Other major challenges include:

• Low Productivity: Most farming is done at a subsistence level with outdated techniques and a lack of modern machinery, seeds, and fertilizers.
• Weak Infrastructure: Poor farm-to-market roads, limited storage facilities, and inadequate logistics make it difficult for farmers to get their produce to market, leading to high post-harvest losses.
• Lack of Value Addition: A large portion of Liberia’s crops, like cocoa and coffee, are exported raw, meaning the country misses out on the higher-value revenue generated from processing.
• Access to Finance: Farmers struggle to access credit from traditional banks, hindering their ability to invest in their farms and expand operations.

This is the landscape into which the Mainland Group’s investment arrives. The company’s plan is not just to produce crops but to build the crucial processing and logistics infrastructure that has been missing for so long, directly addressing the core weaknesses of the sector.

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Strategic Pillars of the $100M Investment

The investment is a multifaceted approach, with each component designed to support and strengthen the others. The breakdown of the US$100 million includes significant capital for assets and working capital, demonstrating a commitment to both fixed infrastructure and day-to-day operations.

• Rice Production and Processing: With a planned investment of US10 million in working capital, rice is a national priority. Mr. Zhu Chen revealed that a new processing plant will open on a 1,000-hectare site in Fuamah, Bong County, as early as September or October 2025. This project will not only create a reliable market for local rice farmers but also help reduce Liberia’s dependency on imported rice, a cornerstone of the government’s food security agenda. The Ministry of Agriculture has been actively seeking to modernize rice cultivation, recently introducing new high-yield rice varieties to boost national output.
• Cassava Processing for Starch: With a similar investment of US2millioninassetsandUS10 million in working capital, the cassava processing facility will be a game-changer. Cassava is a staple food in Liberia, but its potential extends far beyond local consumption. The processing of cassava into starch creates a valuable commodity used in various industries, from food to textiles and paper. By adding this processing capacity, the Mainland Group will empower cassava farmers to sell their crops at a higher value, directly increasing their incomes and linking them to a more robust commercial market.
• Cocoa and Coffee Processing: The largest share of the investment, a combined US5−7millionforassetsandUS58 million in working capital, is dedicated to cocoa and coffee. This is a crucial move for Liberia’s cash crops. Historically, Liberian farmers have been forced to export raw cocoa and coffee beans, missing out on the profits from value addition. The new processing plants, with cocoa processing scheduled to begin in early 2026, will transform raw beans into high-demand products like cocoa mass, cocoa butter, and cocoa powder. This strategy is expected to be a major driver in the projected 20-30% increase in farmer incomes. The Liberian Investigator quotes Mr. Zhu emphasizing this point: “You need to increase the value of the productions… We will collect the cacao beans from the farmers, and we will process them to become the cacao mass. After cacao mass, you will do the cacao butter and cacao powder.”
• Sugar Refinery: The planned sugar refinery, backed by an US8−10millionassetinvestmentandUS15-20 million in working capital, aims to address Liberia’s sugar import dependency. The company’s strategy includes developing its own sugarcane plantations to supply the refinery, with a two-year timeline for this to become operational. This project will not only create jobs in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors but will also contribute to national food security by reducing reliance on foreign-sourced goods.
• Warehousing and Logistics: A dedicated investment of US7millioninassetsandUS3 million in working capital for warehousing and logistics infrastructure highlights the Mainland Group’s strategic understanding of the Liberian market. This critical infrastructure will be located near port areas to streamline the supply chain, reduce post-harvest losses, and ensure that agricultural products can be stored and transported efficiently. This investment in logistics is as important as the processing facilities themselves, as it will connect rural farmers to both local and international markets more effectively.

Projected Economic and Social Impacts

The Mainland Group’s investment is more than just a financial transaction; it is a promise of tangible economic and social benefits for the Liberian people. The company’s target to engage more than 150,000 ordinary farmers within the next five years is a monumental goal that would touch a significant portion of the country’s rural population.

The projected 20-30% increase in farmer incomes would be transformative for rural communities, lifting families out of poverty and stimulating local economies. Minister J. Alexander Nuetah, Liberia’s Minister of Agriculture, underscored this point, highlighting how the investment will help address “offtaking,” one of the biggest challenges for farmers. The new processing plants will act as reliable buyers, providing farmers with a stable market and a fair price for their produce.

Furthermore, the investment is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs. From the construction of the facilities to the long-term employment in the plants, plantations, and logistics networks, the project will be a powerful engine for employment. This focus on job creation, particularly in rural areas, is a key component of the government’s development agenda.

A Supportive Government and a Unified Vision

The success of this investment is closely tied to the proactive support of the Liberian government. The Ministry of Agriculture, under the leadership of Minister Nuetah, has been instrumental in facilitating the deal and creating an enabling environment for foreign investment. This is part of a larger government effort to revive the agricultural sector and reduce food import dependency.

Minister Nuetah also announced a pledge from the Chinese government of an additional 16 agricultural machines, bringing the total number of units, including tractors and diesel generators, to 304. These machines are intended for Liberia’s mechanization centers, which are designed to provide farmers with access to modern equipment and technology. This parallel support from the Chinese government, coupled with the private sector investment from the Mainland Group, illustrates a coordinated effort to modernize Liberia’s farming practices from the ground up.

The government’s vision extends to strengthening the entire agricultural ecosystem. This includes plans for a new agricultural bank to provide farmers with access to credit and a focus on improving rural roads and land rights to encourage long-term investment.

Conclusion: A Foundation for Long-Term Growth

The Mainland Group’s US$100 million investment in Liberia is a profound vote of confidence in the country’s future. It provides the financial capital and technical expertise needed to address deep-rooted problems in the agricultural sector. By focusing on value addition, processing, and logistics, the project has the potential to transform Liberia from a net importer of food to a self-sufficient and even exporting nation.

This partnership is a powerful example of how foreign direct investment can align with national development goals, creating a pathway to food security, economic growth, and poverty alleviation. As the Mainland Group moves forward with its plans to begin operations in the coming months, all eyes will be on this initiative as a model for sustainable and inclusive development in West Africa.

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By: Montel Kamau

Serrari Financial Analyst

14th August, 2025