Agriculture Minister Florence Chenoweth could not stop being festive yesterday afternoon as she witnessed the singing a US$18.24 million grant agreement between the Government of Liberia and the African Development Bank (ADB) to strengthen the country's agriculture sector and improve rural lives.

At least 9,000 rural households are expected to directly benefit from the application of the grant, and Minister Chenoweth termed it as a "big boost" to the post war country's agriculture sector facing huge human resource challenges.

Liberia's Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan and the ADB Vice President Dr. Kamal El Kheshen respectively signed for Liberia and the ADB, with dozens of Finance Ministry and ADB officials witnessing the ceremony, following a brief meeting between the two sides.

"It gives me great pleasure to take part in the signing ceremony of the second ADF Grant Agreement for the Agriculture Sector Rehabilitation Project (ASRP)," Mr. El Kheshen said, after signing the agreement.

The ADB executive said yesterday's signing brings the overall Bank support to the project to US$18.24 million, and constitutes 78% of the total cost of the program (ASRP) which is co-financed with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of Liberia.

The Bank, he said, initially provided financial assistance to the post-conflict development efforts directed at Liberia's agriculture sector, besides the African Food Crisis Response (AFCR) grant of UA 3.00 million which was provided as budget support to contribute to the easement of macro-economic imbalances that were created by the escalation of food prices.

Mr. El Kheshen indicated that the Bank Group recognizes that the Government of Liberia is committed to improving rural livelihoods.

"The Grant Agreement we are now signing," the ADB Vice President explained, "will help Liberia in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly the goal of eradicating hunger and poverty."

About 9,600 rural households are expected to directly benefit from the program. The key benefits include 100 km of feeder roads, improved water management infrastructure for 1,600 Ha, 16 multifunctional facilities and potable water supply facilities within the four project counties in the south east of the country, in addition to rehabilitated office premises and agricultural extension delivery capacity, Mr. El Kheshen said.

The project complements other ongoing ADB projects and its design fully recognizes and responds to gender, environmental and climate change issues, the Mr. El Kheshen stated.

He then applauded what he called the excellent relations between the Government of Liberia and the Bank and assured the Bank's continued support to the programs pursued by the Liberian Government which aim to enhance development in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Finance Minister Ngafuan expressed gratitude to Mr. El Kheshen and delegation for the visit and the ADB for the magnanimous support to the country's recovery program.

He said the ADB has been one of the highest contributing partners to Liberia's postwar development, recalling the US$40 million support to the water sector of the country, the reconstruction of roads in the south east (Harper- Fish Town road) and now the agriculture sector.

An ecstatic Agriculture Minister Chenoweth said she was proud and elated of the ADB support to the country, especially the agriculture sector.

"Our focus now is the future... to rebuild Liberia, and with this support, we will take up the challenge to rebuild the agriculture sector," she said.

She said the challenge in rebuilding the agric sector, to make it productive, was very high with capacity 70% below the needed target.

But with the grant, she said, more capacity will be built and this would help boost the sector and food production I the country.

"With your help, with this money, we can move towards a better agriculture sector. The money is in good hands, rest assure," Minister Chenoweth concluded in a smiling mood.

In a related development, the visiting ADB Vice President Dr. El Kheshen says Liberia has performed excellently well on the path to recovery.

He said given the level of economic recovery and infrastructural development, the ADB is committed in partnering with the Government of Liberia in realizing socio-economic growth and development for the benefit of all Liberians.

Dr. El Kheshen made these comments when he paid a courtesy call on Public Works Minister Samuel Kofi Woods, II.

He expressed satisfaction for the premier leadership and oversight role exhibited by the Public Works Ministry and promised his institution continuous support for this positive partnership.

For his part, Minister Woods expressed Government's commitment in ensuring that all projects are timely implemented in line with quality and international best practices.

He assured the Bank's delegation that the determination to commence additional work on the Fish Town- Harper highway will intensify with the awarding of the contract in September 2010.

He also made it clear that earthworks have already commenced with the construction of drainages and culverts along the highway.

He thanked the ADB for the partnership and level of commitment and sacrifice demonstrated by the Bank towards Liberia's recovery.