DEVELOPING A WEST AFRICAN REGIONAL AQUACULTURE LEARNING CENTER: THE CASE FOR GRAND BASSA COUNTY, LIBERIA  

In Liberia women comprise more than 50% of the agricultural labor force and nearly 67% of the labor force in trade and commerce. The ongoing inability to access needed resources such as land, labor, and capital, as well as technology and market opportunities presents serious challenges with adverse implications for household food security, nutrition, and income. Although rich with fertile soil and abundant water resources Liberia is currently dependent on importing approximately 90% of its national food needs. Additionally, the unemployment rate, particularly among the youth exceeds 70% and represents a national security risk. The Government acknowledges these are unsustainable conditions. In 2014, the Bureau of National Fisheries (BNF) released their Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy & Strategy plan which promotes the development of sustainable aquaculture for subsistence and commercial purposes to provide greater food security, and greater employment and export opportunities.  

AWF is actively engaged in a working coalition of partners to bring an Aquaculture Learning Center to Liberia, West Africa to be housed at Grand Bassa Community College (GBCC). The coalition brings together leaders from the Liberian BNF, the Association of African Agricultural Economists, the Grand Bassa County Association in the America's, Solar Afric, Inc., GBCC, and AwF.

GBCC was established in 2008. Programs offered include those in science and technology, engineering, mathematics, nursing, TVET, ICT, education, agriculture, and entrepreneurship. GBCC is currently transitioning from a 2-year Community College to a 4-year degree seeking University and wishes to add aquaculture and sustainable fisheries to their existing curricula, develop a demonstration facility, and to seek recognition as a Center of Excellence (COE) in Aquaculture. As a COE it is envisioned GBCC will serve as a self-sustaining teaching, research, and demonstration facility.

A multi-year multi-phase plan is in development that would utilize the resources at the COE to support a regional ALC for access by all West African nations utilizing both hands-on and web-based platforms.  Training would include activities up and down the value chain including fish production, pond construction, pond management, feed production, seed production, business plan development, enterprise management, group action, market access, processing, storage, and food safety and hygiene.