By Patrick Stephen Tokpah
/BONG
The Director of Communications at the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) in Suakoko, Bong County, has revealed that the institution is steadily returning to its pre-war status as a leading agricultural research center in West Africa.
According to Papa Morris, under the leadership of Dr. Arthur Bob Karnuah as Director General, CARI is reviving and strengthening programs that once made it one of the region’s most dependable research institutions.
He noted that the livestock unit of CARI has been reactivated as part of efforts to enhance animal research across Liberia.
“The institute has purchased hybrid pigs, goats, chickens, and sheep for laboratory and field research purposes,” Morris revealed.
Morris also disclosed that CARI has procured 10,000 seedlings of Liberia’s coffee, to produce over 30,000 seedlings for distribution to farmers nationwide in a bid to improve agricultural productivity.
CARI has over 5,000 improved varieties of palm seedlings intended to boost palm oil production in the country.
He further revealed that more than thirty-one hectares of various cassava varieties have been planted. These will be used to provide farmers across Liberia with improved cassava stems.
Mr. Morris further revealed that in this Month of June, CARI will open the “CARI Store”—the first of its kind. The store will offer a range of agricultural products developed by the institute for public purchase.
He is calling on farmers and members of the public to take advantage of the institution’s resources to improve their yields and contribute to the growth of Liberia’s agricultural sector.
CARI is an autonomous apex public agricultural research institution and the main body for agricultural research in Liberia.
It evolved from the Central Agricultural Experimental Station (CAES) in the 1980s and gained a strong reputation as a center of excellence in applied and adaptive research before it was severely affected by the country’s civil crisis.
He made the statement in an interview with journalists in the county.