Over 50 farmers from 14 cooperatives in six counties participated in a four-day intensive training on commercial farming and the safe handling and management of agrochemicals at the Central Agriculture Research Institute (CARI) in Bong County on August 14-17, 2024.
The exercise is in continuation of a series of skills training for farmer cooperatives in Gbarpolu, Nimba, Bong, Rivercess, Lofa, and Bomi Counties under the Liberian Government flagship Accelerated Community Development Program (ACDP) supported, managed, and implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Farmer Cooperatives acquired theoretical and practical, low-cost techniques for the commercial production of rice and cassava to increase yields, add value to commodities, and meet market quality standards.
The smallholder farmers also learned the basics needed for the proper handling of agrochemicals, thereby enabling them to choose the appropriate frameworks, methods, and tools, and to serve as agents of change through farmer-to-farmer networking.
Experts from the Ministry of Agriculture/CARI facilitated and delivered the training through presentations, group activities, and field demonstrations aimed at helping smallholder farmers gradually move from subsistence to mechanized farming.
The training workshop focused on modern rice production and commercialization techniques, highlighting advanced cassava production techniques, the benefits of cassava production to economic development, the cassava value chain, crop management, post-harvest technology, integrated pest management, integrated nutrient management, and irrigation.
Farmers were engaged in group sessions discussing the importance of crops to their livelihoods, an increase in the production of yields, strategies to improve sales, and challenges limiting their abilities to venture into large-scale commercial farming.
The Assistant Minister for Technical Services at the Ministry of Agriculture Zogbo Luther urged farmers to take the training seriously, as it is intended to help them learn new ways of farming, empower them, create employment, and improve livelihoods.
“It is time to tighten your belts to push agriculture forward. This training is one of the opportunities given to you to gain knowledge that will help you become exporters, promote Liberian-owned products, feed extended families, increase savings, and put Liberia on the trajectory roadmap for the agriculture sector,” Minister Luther emphasized.
She mentioned that the government of Liberia through the Ministry of Agriculture is committed to commercializing the agriculture sector with support to local farmers.
Beneficiaries participating in the training were ecstatic about the new modules introduced to them by the facilitators. The farmers said the training will potentially impact how they conduct their farming activities as cooperatives and individual farmers.
“Now, I fully understand the different methods of cutting, the reason for planning, record keeping, and identifying a suitable location for cultivation,” said Samukai Sirleaf of Gbarpolu County.
Rachael Suah of Bong County said the training has opened her eyes to the importance of post-harvest techniques, and business opportunities that can support her family.
“I didn’t know some of these methods. Thanks to the government and UNDP for preparing me through this training to go back to my village to put into practice what I have learned especially using my cassava and rice in different ways to make money,” Rachael said, promising to train others.
Agriculture is considered one of the drivers for national growth and development in Liberia under the country’s National Development Plan.
The agriculture sector of Liberia is dominated by smallholder farmers who are grossly challenged on many fronts, which affects their productivity and livelihood.
Their production accounts for more than 30% of the country’s GDP. These are subsistence farmers who are poor and lack access to basic training and practical agricultural skills.
The Project Associate of UNDP/ACDP Odaphus Dahn said the training will empower farmers to meet the minimum quality standards of the market and make their produce more marketable and attractive to potential buyers, thus increasing their competitiveness on a larger scale.