By S. Siapha Mulbah
The International Trade Center has launched a 10-day training workshop on the clonal coffee propagation system to be used in transforming the coffee sector of the country.
The business friendly project is aimed at supporting the development of the value chains of coffee through private sector initiatives with a target of revamping the sector in Liberia.
The European Union, Organization of African Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP) have provide fund for the pilot phase of the project that has brought together 30 local farmers from three counties to learn from foreign stakeholders in the coffee sector.
The president of the Farmers Union Network of Liberia (FUNL), Josephine Francis, speaking during the workshop said while coffee being a good investment to agriculture in the world, Liberians had devalued their farms since the inception of the civil war.
She stated that the union had been seeking partnerships to train it members on basic activities involving the improvement of farming methods like the clonal coffee propagation system that is being used in other countries.
Francis said since the war Liberia’s coffee is no longer on the global map but Liberians are fortunate to collaborate with the EU and ACP business friendly project that is in four countries.
She added that through a survey conducted, the farmers’ union was able to capture coffee farms across the country that are going to train young Liberians on how to manage planting and productivity.
ITC as implementer of the project is working in partnership with FUNL to ensure that the future of the once existed agricultural product get back on the world market.
The training run from Wednesday, September 14 to Friday, September 24, 2022, at FUNL headquarters along the Kakata Monrovia highway with other projects underway which will lead farmers of the various counties conduct similar session at county levels.
