By Stephen N. Tokpah
-Bong (Freelance)
The Rice, Cassava, and Vegetable Producer and Processor Union of Liberia, a local farming cooperative in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, has launched its harvest for lowland rice farm located in Gbaylaykpala Town, Jorquelleh Electoral District 3, Bong County.
With support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), through the Ministry of Agriculture, this initiative was carried out by the Rice, Cassava, and Vegetable Producer and Processor Union of Liberia, a local farming cooperative established by Christ’s Vision International Ministries Church located in Gbarnga, Bong County.
The cooperative is dedicated to improving agricultural productivities and food security in Bong County, and by extension, the entire country of Liberia.
The founder and overseer of Christ’s Vision International Ministries and the Executive Director of the cooperative, Rev. James Paye, urged all Liberians to embrace farming as a pathway to economic growth and development.
He reiterated that the cooperative seeks to unify various farming groups to boost food production throughout Liberia, reinforcing the idea that agricultural development is key to the country’s future.
Rev. Paye lauded the Ministry of Agriculture and its partners for their supports, noting that through IFAD, farming tools, including a power tiller, boots, cutlasses, and some cash were made available to their cooperative in the county.
“The launch of this rice harvest supports the Boakai-Koung administration’s ARREST agenda, a key pillar of President Joseph Boakai’s campaign promises,” the Christ Vision International Ministries Church clergyman noted.
He emphasized that the initiative is intended to reduce Liberia’s dependence on rice imports by increasing domestic production of the staple crop.
Despite the vast fertile land in Liberia, rice, the country’s staple food, continues to be imported in large quantities, a challenge the Ministry of Agriculture is determined to address through such project.
According to Rev Paye, the low farm covers 9.6 hectares, equivalent to 24 acres of land, adding, “The rice variety cultivated is a three-month crop.”
The Founder and overseer of Christ’s Vision International Ministries and the Executive Director of the cooperative revealed further that besides the farm in Gbaylaykpala Town, his cooperative have over three low land rice farms in the county.
Mr. Moses Gbanyan, Deputy Minister for Regional Development, Research, and Extension at the Ministry of Agriculture, expressed his gratitude to the cooperative members for effectively utilizing the support provided by the Ministry, with assistance from IFAD.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to equipping local farmers with major agricultural tools and resources across Liberia as means of boosting the agriculture sector of the Country.
Minister Gbanyan also disclosed that plans are underway to supply farmers with power tillers, tractors, and other essential farming equipment so as to enhance productivity, particularly for rice farmers.
Deputy Minister Gbanyan said he is personally committed to empowering local farmers to produce sufficient food for Liberia, stating that the Ministry, under the leadership of President Joseph Boakai, aims to reduce Liberia’s rice imports by 70 to 80% within the next three years.
However, he stressed that achieving this ambitious goal depends heavily on the willingness of farmers to actively engage in the agricultural process.
Ghemelee N. Keculah, Technical lead for Building Climate Resilience Project (BCRP), lauded the Executive Director of the Rice, Cassava, and Vegetable Producer and Processor Union of Liberia for the huge initiative in the county.
He further pledged BCRP project commitment to working with the cooperative through technical support in buttressing their efforts in providing more low land farms in the county.
Mr. Keculah believes that with support, the Rice, Cassava, and Vegetable Producer and Processor Union of Liberia would help in buttressing the government’s effort in it developmental agenda (ARREST).
At the launching ceremony of the harvest, Bong County Superintendent, Hawa Norris, expressed her excitement about the cooperative’s progress and urged the citizens of Bong County to reclaim the county’s historical status as one of Liberia’s key breadbaskets.
Superintendent Norris called on residents to put aside their differences and unite for the common cause of revamping agriculture in the region.
Madam Norris also pointed out the importance of agriculture in national development, encouraging local churches and mosques to follow the example set by Christ’s Vision International Ministries Church in Gbarnga by actively participating in similar agricultural venture.
The launching ceremony took place over the weekend, on the outskirts of Gbaylaykpala Town, Jorquelleh District 3, Bong County.
