Two cooperative societies in Lofa County have been certificated after completing all the requirements to enable them to function as bona-fide cooperative societies.
The Kaming Farmers Cooperative Society is situated in Boloma Town, Lokamba District, and the United Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative Society in Sosomoilahun, Wanlyassa District were certificated at a brief ceremony held at the Weinla Credit Union Cooperative Society in Voinjama City, Lofa County.
Two 9-member Board of Directors from each of these two cooperative societies were also inducted into office to serve two separate terms of two years, and they can be re-elected by their members for another two years.
Performing the certification and induction ceremonies, the Registrar General of the Cooperative Development Agency (CDA), Hon. Lwopu Kandakai called on members of the Cooperative Societies to embrace the ARREST Agenda of the government, citing the letter “A,” which is for agriculture.
She encouraged the cooperative societies to grow enough food for local consumption, while the surpluses could be exported for foreign exchange earnings.
Madam Kandakai emphasized the need for farmers to grow what we eat and eat what we grow so that Liberia can be food secured. This she noted will give us peace and satisfaction, and eventually, unity will prevail.
The CDA Registrar General (RG) recalled that in the past, Lofa was regarded as the bread basket for the nation and would like to see that happening again through the active participation of cooperative societies in food production.
She noted that cooperatives are the engines to drive food security and sustainability as most countries in the world were developed through cooperatives.
She then admonished the cooperative members to divorce their activities from politics as this could spread division and disunity among them.
Madam Kandakai thanked the Ministry of Agriculture and other donor partners, including UNDP and IFAD, for their support towards cooperative development in Liberia.
In a related development, the certification of the two cooperative societies, Madam Kandakai pointed out, was very unique because Liberia will be celebrating the International Cooperative Day (ICD) in Voinjama, Lofa County for the first time although the first cooperative societies were established in Lofa County more than 50 years ago.
At the ICD celebration, slated for July 6, 2024, the government, through the CDA, will be recognizing the pioneers of the Cooperative Movement in Liberia for their invaluable services to the nation through cooperatives, the CDA Registrar General disclosed.
Speaking on behalf of the Cooperative Societies, Manager of the Voinjama District Women Organization for Peace and Development (VODWOPEDE) Mr. Mawolo Daniels, thanked the CDA for empowering cooperative societies through regular training and monitoring of their activities.
He, however, recommended that CDA should explore linking cooperative societies for grant assistance to boost their productivity capacities.
Mr. Mavolo also requested the CDA to build their capacities on improved crop management practices and disaster mitigation to reduce the effects of climate change.
The chairpersons of newly certificated cooperative societies thanked the CDA for empowering them to function as legitimate entities.
Messrs. Abraham Fofana and Blama Kanneh promised to uphold the confidence reposed in them by their members.
