The Agricultural Research Consortium (ARC), in partnership with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Charities, has concluded a six-day intensive agriculture training workshop for 130 farmers in Kingsville, Rural Montserrado County.
The training, which benefited members of the Kwakeh Multipurpose Women’s Agricultural Cooperative and congregants of the Latter-day Saints Church, aimed to boost food security and improve the economic viability of smallholder farmers in Liberia.
Participants received practical instruction in key agricultural areas, including agronomic practices, vegetable production techniques, post-harvest handling, soil fertility management, integrated pest management, and agricultural marketing strategies.
To further enhance their farming capabilities, each participant was equipped with agricultural tools and supplies, including pesticides, watering cans, spraying cans, assorted vegetable seeds, and hoes provided through support from the Church.
Speaking at the closing ceremony held at the Latter-day Saints Church in Kingsville, Hawa Taigbailee, president of the Kwakeh Multipurpose Women’s Agricultural Cooperative, expressed deep appreciation to the Church for its continued support.
“This training has brought our vision closer to reality,” she said. “If a farmer lacks technical agricultural knowledge, productivity becomes impossible. But with the right knowledge, we can correctly apply fertilizers and care for our crops.”
Taigbailee appealed to the Liberian government and other humanitarian organizations to offer more training and provide advanced farming tools, emphasizing that empowering farmers is the first step toward sustainable development.
“When farmers are empowered, their families thrive, and they contribute meaningfully to their communities,” she said. “You cannot compare a farmer to a doctor without understanding their collaboration. A doctor gives you medicine, but first tells you to eat. So, how will patients eat if farmers are not empowered?”
Elder Daron Haddock of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints presented certificates to the graduates and reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to helping communities across the globe, including Liberia.
“Continue to seek knowledge,” Elder Haddock urged participants. “Empowerment through education and skill-building is the key to long-term change.”
ARC’s Executive Director, David Taigbailee, highlighted the significance of women’s involvement in agriculture, noting their attention to detail and dedication to food production.
“Women know the best crops to plant and how to prepare food. Their empowerment is essential to agricultural success,” he said.
The majority of the trainees were women, aligning with the program’s focus on elevating female farmers to spearhead local agricultural development.
Also present at the event was Marie Kollie, District Agriculture Officer for Montserrado County, who praised the initiative and thanked the Latter-day Saints Church for investing in local farmers.
