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By Ben TC Brooks
As Liberia intensifies efforts to modernize agriculture and improve rural livelihoods, the Ministry of Agriculture has completed the distribution of a new batch of tricycles to farming groups in Grand Gedeh and Maryland Counties.
The handover ceremony, held at the Ministry’s Technical Transfer Center in Harper City, marked a significant milestone under the Rural Economic Transformation Project (RETRAP)—a World Bank-funded initiative designed to strengthen smallholder resilience and enhance value chain efficiency.
The distribution follows a similar event in Grand Gedeh County and forms part of a broader national strategy aligned with the government’s AAREST agenda. The intervention aims to address longstanding mobility challenges that limit farmers’ access to markets and essential agricultural services.
County-level agricultural officials and cooperative leaders gathered at the MOA facilities in Harper and Zwedru to receive the tricycles, which are expected to reduce transportation costs, minimize post-harvest losses, and facilitate the movement of goods from farm to market.
Speaking at the turnover of 17 tricycles for selected farming groups, Nunu Sharty, Grand Gedeh County Agriculture Coordinator, emphasized that the tricycles are not merely handouts but strategic tools for development under a broader framework of government-farmer collaboration.
“This is an opportunity for local farmers to improve market access and reduce transportation costs for their produce,” Sharty said. “We will continue to work closely with you to track how these tools are transforming your operations.” She added that the Ministry has instituted a post-distribution monitoring mechanism to assess usage and ensure long-term impact.
Also addressing the gathering, Davidson Barlee, Grand Gedeh’s Development Officer, contextualized the initiative within the county’s broader development challenges. He noted that logistical barriers remain a major hurdle for smallholder farmers attempting to scale up production and reach urban markets.
“The significance of this intervention lies in its potential to bridge access gaps,” Barlee said. “We urge the cooperatives to manage these tricycles collectively and ensure they serve the wider community.”
For the recipients, the support could not have come at a better time. Alvin Gbadee, chairman of the Konobo Cooperative Society, expressed gratitude on behalf of the beneficiaries and pledged that the equipment would be used responsibly.
“This support comes at a critical time when farmers are expanding production but struggle with transport,” Gbadee noted. “We are committed to using these tricycles to boost delivery to local markets and reduce post-harvest losses.”
Similarly, farmers in Maryland County welcomed the intervention with optimism. Many hailed the initiative as timely, particularly as the planting and harvesting seasons intensify. Beneficiaries are committed to ensuring the equipment is used efficiently to benefit not just individual farmers but entire cooperatives and surrounding communities.
“This tricycle will help us get our vegetables and rice to the local market on time,” said one recipient from the Pleebo Farmers Cooperative. “We’ve often had to walk long distances or pay high fees to transport produce. This will make a big difference.”
The intervention aligns with the AAREST agenda’s focus on decentralizing agricultural support and empowering farmers in underserved counties such as Grand Gedeh and Maryland. Historically, these regions have lagged behind due to weak infrastructure, limited access to farm equipment, and minimal mechanization.
The RETRAP project, under which this support is provided, seeks to stimulate economic growth in rural Liberia by improving agricultural infrastructure, boosting productivity, and creating job opportunities, especially among women and youth. Tricycle distribution is one of several components designed to address logistical gaps that have hampered smallholder farmers for decades.
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