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By Josiah Pailay/ Phone: +231 881 913 880 / +231 760 808 849/ Email: [email protected]
Bong County – Seventy-two young agricultural leaders have graduated from the Youth International Training Institute (YITI) following the successful completion of its nine-month hands-on practical agricultural training program at Goll Farm in Jorquelleh District , Bong County.
The graduation marks another important milestone in Liberia’s efforts to strengthen agricultural education, promote youth empowerment, and enhance national food security through practical skills development.
YITI’s training model is built on the principle of “Learning by Doing and Seeing,” similar to the practical agricultural training approach used in Israel.
The program places strong emphasis on experiential learning, with 85 percent practical field training and 15 percent classroom instruction, enabling students to acquire real-life farming experience while mastering modern agricultural techniques.
Throughout the nine-month program, students received intensive training in vegetable production, poultry production, piggery, aquaculture (fish farming), beekeeping (apiculture), mushroom production, compost making, soil fertility and soil management, irrigation systems, pest and disease management, post-harvest handling, agribusiness and entrepreneurship, climate-smart agriculture, and sustainable farming practices.
Beyond classroom learning, trainees worked daily on demonstration farms where they planted, managed, harvested, and marketed agricultural products, equipping them with the practical knowledge required to establish successful farming enterprises after graduation.
The graduation ceremony attracted government officials, development partners, agricultural stakeholders, community leaders, family members, and well-wishers who gathered to celebrate the achievements of the graduates.
Representing Bong County Senator Prince K. Moye, Sr., Mr. Steve Mulbah congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to transform the knowledge acquired into productive agricultural businesses.
He urged the graduates to embrace agriculture as a career, reminding them to “grow what we eat and eat what we grow.” He emphasized that Liberia possesses vast agricultural potential and that young people must take the lead in increasing local food production, reducing dependence on imports, and creating employment opportunities.
Speaking on the graduation theme, “Growing More Than Crops, Growing the Future,” Mr. Mulbah called on the graduates to become champions of agriculture across Liberia.
“It is time for Liberians to grow their own food,” he said, encouraging the graduates to become job creators instead of job seekers.
He also commended the administration of YITI for investing in the education and empowerment of young Liberians through practical agricultural training in post-war Liberia.
On behalf of Senator Moye, Mr. Mulbah presented US$400 as an initial contribution toward the expansion and development of YITI’s agricultural training program in Bong County.
He further announced that Senator Moye is expected to pay a visit to the demonstration farm in the coming weeks to assess the institution’s progress and interact with students and staff.
Providing an overview of the institution, YITI’s National Advisor Jacob Dennis described agriculture as one of Liberia’s greatest opportunities for sustainable economic growth.
“Agriculture is the backbone of Liberia’s development and a powerful tool for creating jobs, ensuring food security, and building a strong economy,” Mr. Dennis said.
He explained that YITI combines practical field experience with classroom instruction to prepare students as innovators, entrepreneurs, and future leaders in agriculture.
Mr. Dennis noted that the institute operates under the philosophy “Participate, Build and Sustain,” encouraging graduates to actively contribute to agricultural development while promoting sustainable farming practices within their communities.
He praised the graduates for their commitment and willingness to learn new agricultural technologies, emphasizing that the practical nature of the program prepares students with skills that can immediately be applied in the field.
“You are leaving this institution with practical skills that can transform your lives and your communities,” he told the graduates.
The Youth International Training Institute (YITI) was established in 2020 by a group of young Liberian agricultural professionals who met while studying agriculture in Israel. Inspired by Israel’s world-renowned practical agricultural training system, the founders envisioned an institution that would bridge the gap between classroom education and practical farming in Liberia.
Their vision gave birth to a training institute where students learn through direct participation in agricultural production rather than relying solely on theory.
Since its establishment, YITI has remained committed to producing skilled agricultural professionals capable of improving food production, promoting agribusiness, and supporting national development.
This year’s graduation represents the second successful graduation in the institution’s history, demonstrating the steady growth and impact of the school in building Liberia’s next generation of agricultural leaders.
As part of the graduation activities, guests participated in an Agro Expo showcasing the practical achievements of the students. Visitors toured demonstration plots and observed harvesting exercises featuring fish, cucumbers, corn, radishes, bitterball, peppers, and a variety of other vegetables produced during the training period.
The exhibition demonstrated that the graduates had not only learned agricultural theory but had successfully applied modern production techniques from land preparation to harvesting and post-harvest management.
Speaking on behalf of the graduating class, Abraham Kortomai the Vice president, expressed appreciation to YITI, its instructors, development partners, and supporters for providing quality agricultural education rooted in practical experience.
He pledged on behalf of his friends to use their newly acquired knowledge and skills to establish agricultural enterprises, increase food production, create employment opportunities, and contribute to Liberia’s national food security agenda.
Through its practical training model, YITI continues to position itself as one of Liberia’s emerging agricultural institutions dedicated to developing competent young farmers and agripreneurs.
By promoting innovation, hands-on learning, and community-based agricultural development, the institute is helping build a resilient agricultural sector capable of transforming Liberia’s economy.
The graduation of 72 young agricultural leaders serves as another reminder that investing in practical agricultural education is an investment in Liberia’s future one where young people are equipped not merely to seek employment, but to create opportunities, feed their communities, and drive sustainable national development.
