B. T. Simpson^{1, 2*},J. L. Medja Ussalu³, C. Mondlane Macandza² and A. D. Ndeve ²

1. 1. Centre of Excellence in Agri-Food Systems and Nutrition (CE-AFSN), Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique. bondosimpson@gmail.com
2. 2. Faculty of Agronomy and Forestry Engineering, Department of Crop Production, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique. celsamacandza@gmail.com , Ndevegod@gmail.com
3. 3. Faculty of Agronomy and Forestry Engineering, Department of Rural Engineering, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique. jonemedja@gmail.com

Introduction: Achieving food security and sustainable resource management has become the main goal for many developing countries. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is staple crop in Liberia, and its demand is increasing while yield remains low. Climate changes are exacerbating the current scenario. Therefore, the identification of agricultural land suitable for rice cultivation, the mapping sustainable production areas, may lead to increased rice production and yield and contribute to food security.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to identify areas that are suitable for rice crop cultivation in Liberia, based on ten key factors, namely: temperature, precipitation, elevation, slope, soil texture, soil pH, soil organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Methodology: The study employed Geographic Information System (GIS) - based Multi-Criteria Decision-Making method to define rice cultivation suitability areas, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to rank the various suitability factors, and the GIS-based raster calculator to compute the weighted linear combination of suitability map layers to derive the final suitability map.

Results: Results show that 30% of the land is highly suitable, 21% suitable, 30% semi suitable and 19% not suitable for rice cultivation. These areas are found in the northern, western and southeastern regions of Liberia, and include the counties Bong, Lofa, Nimba, Gbarbolu, Grand Gedeh and River Gee.

Conclusion: Although there is a slight difference among categories, more than half of the land is suitable for rice cultivation in Liberia. Therefore, there is scope to improve rice production through the expansion of land dedicated to rice production as well as through the adoption of technologies that promote rice growth and productivity; and equip the smallholders’ farmers with required knowledge. This study provides important aids for stakeholders and policy makers in agricultural planning and development in Liberia.

Keywords: Rice, Land Suitability, Analytic Hierarchy Process, GIS-based Multi-Criteria Decision-Making.