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By: Wilmot Konah /+231555666441/[email protected]
With support from the African Development Bank, the Ministry of Agriculture through the “Emergency Rice Production Offense Project” has commenced the distribution of farming implements to local rice farmers in Bong County
The “Emergency Rice Production Offense Project” was designed by the Ministry of Agriculture to empower lowland rice farmers, and it aimed to increase rice production and reduce food insecurity in Liberia.
Addressing Agriculture Reporters over the weekend at the Ministry of Agriculture regional office in Suakoko District, Theophilus Darwolo; the project focus person in Bong County asserted that the”Emergency Rice Production Offense Project” is intended to develop 5000 hectares of lowland in rice production across the Country and in fulfillment of the government’s pledge of increasing local rice production.
He disclosed that of the 5000 hectares needed to be developed, Bong County is expected to develop 800 hectares of lowland for routine rice production.
Materials being distributed include seed rice, fertilizers, Urea including insecticide and herbicide. Additionally, Darwolo stated that the project had previously empowered farmers through cash distribution, and the current phase is geared toward providing farming implements.
The Bong County focus person noted that the current phase of the “Emergency Rice Production Offense Project” is supplying a total of 1600bags of MPK fertilizers and 825 bags of Urea to lowland farmers in Bong which he says will be monitored and evaluated by the Ministry of Agriculture to avoid misappropriation of the farming implements by beneficiaries.
When quizzed about the recruitment of beneficiary farmers, Darwolo averred that the project is working with farmers’ cooperatives, organizations, and individual smallholder farmers that meet the criteria of providing productive lowland void of dispute to the project for development.
However, Darwolo urged smallholder farmers in Bong County to regularly visit the Ministry of Agriculture regional office in Bong County to understand issues about the next phase of the project which he says will recruit new farmers.
“For those of you farmers who are not part of this phase, just keep focused on farming. I can assure you that once we see the potential in you or your group we will empower you through the next phase of this project” Darwolo said.
Meanwhile, two of the beneficiaries who spoke to Journalists expressed joy over the distribution exercise citing that it will improve their Production. Jefferson Page of the WYEILF Liberia Agriculture Multi-Purpose Cooperative situated in Zoweinta, Kpaii District could not hold his joy. “The materials given to our cooperative will help boost our production in Kpaii District and other places. I want to be grateful to President Joseph Boakai who has seen it necessary to support farmers through the ARREST Agenda. We didn’t see these things happening before.” He stated as he vowed to use the implements for their purpose intended.
Patience Garyemah who received the donation on behalf of the KwaPulu-Kpeh Farmers’ Cooperative located in Manoweashue, Jorquelleh District Two praised MOA for the empowerment. “We are going to use it for the reason it was given to us. It will help us increase our production so that we can’t stop our people from buying imported rice. We’ve been buying these materials on our own which has been a tough thing for us to do.” She concluded.
The plan by the government to reduce the high rate of rice importation might be actualized to some significant extent if it continues to develop and bolster the capacity of smallholder farmers in Liberia. With the full implementation of the “Emergency Rice Production Offense Project”, the developed lowlands will fast-track rice production as experts say they will be used for farming at least twice a year.
