“It could destroy our future.”

The National Rubber Brokers and Farmers Union of Liberia (NARBFUL) has raised alarm over President Joseph Boakai’s recent Executive Order No. 151, warning that the policy could have devastating consequences for thousands of smallholder farmers and independent brokers across the country.

By Edwin N Khakie

Gbarnga, Bong County, August 6, 2025: The Executive Order, which came into effect on August 1, 2025, imposes a surcharge of $150 per metric ton on the export of unprocessed natural rubber, along with $3,000 in fees per container, among other regulatory costs. The government says the measure is intended to encourage domestic processing, stimulate value addition, and create jobs in the long run.

However, in a statement issued on Monday, NARBFUL described the move as “abrupt and economically dangerous,” arguing that it threatens the viability of a sector that supports tens of thousands of Liberian families.

“We are not against the idea of value addition or industrial development,” the Union said. “But such sweeping policies should be implemented gradually and with the full consultation of key local stakeholders especially the smallholder farmers who produce more than 65% of Liberia’s natural rubber.”

NARBFUL further claimed that the Rubber Planters Association of Liberia (RPAL), along with major concessionaires such as Firestone Liberia, Liberia Agriculture Company (LAC), and Jeety Rubber Corporation, have historically sidelined independent farmers and brokers in national rubber policy decisions. The Union says this marginalization has left local actors vulnerable to sudden regulatory shifts.

The Union called on President Boakai to suspend the implementation of Executive Order No. 151 and allow a grace period for local processing initiatives to reach operational maturity. It cited one such plant under construction in Todee District, Montserrado County, and others in development across various regions.

NARBFUL also directed sharp criticism at the Ministry of Agriculture, accusing the institution of bias and misinformation.

 “We believe the Ministry has not provided the President with accurate sector data, and its leadership continues to side with concession companies, rather than solving real problems,” the Union charged.

Despite their concerns, NARBFUL reaffirmed its support for the government’s tax reform agenda. The Union highlighted its Memoranda of Understanding with both the Ministry of Agriculture (under the RETRAP program) and the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), aimed at ensuring full taxation of rubber sales. It is alleged, however, that some large companies have failed to uphold similar tax commitments.

As tensions rise within Liberia’s oldest export sector, stakeholders across the board are calling for a national dialogue to reconcile policy direction with on-the-ground realities. Whether President Boakai will revisit the order remains to be seen. -Edited by Othello B. Garblah.