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By Ben Brooks
River Gee County- The Karford Multi-Purpose Farmers Cooperative Society in River Gee County has launched an initiative to boost palm and cocoa production, aligning with the government’s ARREST Agenda and supported by Agro Green Development, a local agricultural organization in Maryland County.
Based in Upper Tienpo Statutory District, the cooperative unites nine communities under a common goal: strengthening agriculture as a driver of growth, reducing reliance on government jobs, and improving rural livelihoods.
Edison S. Chenikan, chairman of the cooperative, disclosed that 20 acres of farmland have already been secured — 10 acres each in Cheboken and Jaytoken communities — as the foundation for large-scale activities. He said nurseries for palm and cocoa have also been established in Cheboken, Jaytoken, Scheraken, and New Jaytoken to supply improved seedlings to farmers.
According to Chenikan, the cooperative is currently engaged in small-scale cocoa production and has secured markets for farmers’ produce. Its first consignment of cocoa is expected to be shipped to Monrovia by mid-October 2025, which he described as a breakthrough for the county’s agricultural sector.
Beyond crop production, the cooperative plans to create sustainable markets, offer affordable loans, and pool resources to strengthen both farming and household livelihoods.
“Not everyone, educated or not, will occupy a government job,” Chenikan said. “Let’s go back to the soil and develop our country through increased food production.”
The initiative has earned praise from Abenego F. Russell, Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies in Southeast Liberia, who called it a model of community-driven development in line with government efforts to tackle rural poverty through agriculture.
With the upcoming shipment and further expansion plans, members and surrounding communities remain optimistic that the cooperative will help drive resilience, reduce unemployment, and foster prosperity in River Gee.
