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By Nathan Kollie
Citizens of Gboawuta Panta District, Bong County, are celebrating a new development in the area’s agricultural sector following the official dedication of a palm processing factory established by Olivia’s Farm, headed by Miss Olivia Paye.
The dedication ceremony drew a large gathering of community members, traditional and local leaders, smallholder farmers, and development partners who came together to witness what many described as a major step toward improving agricultural productivity and value addition in the district.
Speaking during the ceremony, Miss Paye provided an overview of Olivia’s Farm and the journey that led to the establishment of the processing facility. She explained that her passion for agriculture began at a young age and gradually developed into a vision to contribute meaningfully to Liberia’s agricultural growth.
According to her, the dream was not only to cultivate oil palm but also to add value to the district’s growing palm production by creating a facility that would help farmers process their palm fruits more efficiently.
Miss Paye expressed gratitude to several partners and supporters who contributed to turning the vision into reality. She highlighted the support of the Ministry of Agriculture through its Smallholder Agriculture Transformation and Agribusiness Revitalization Project (STAR-P), which she said played a critical role in the project’s success.
She disclosed that through the STAR Project, Olivia’s Farm received a JAC truck to support transportation and farm operations, assistance with the construction of the building that now houses the processing factory, and additional farming materials to enhance productivity. She also noted that the farm has expanded significantly over the years—from 40 acres to 170 acres of cultivated land.
Miss Paye said the establishment of the factory is intended not only to support the operations of Olivia’s Farm but also to serve farmers across the district who often face difficulties processing their palm fruits.
“This facility is meant to benefit the entire district. Farmers will now have a place where they can bring their palm fruits for processing, which will help improve efficiency and reduce waste,” she said.
For his part, the Chair of the Board, Aleyou Keita, praised Miss Paye for what he described as a visionary investment that will bring relief to many palm farmers in the district.
Keita noted that one of the major challenges faced by palm producers in rural communities is the lack of modern processing facilities, which often leads to delays, post-harvest losses, and reduced income for farmers.
“With this factory now operational, farmers in this district will find it easier to process their palm fruits, increase production, and earn more income,” he said.
He added that the initiative will also contribute to local economic development by creating employment opportunities and strengthening the district’s agricultural value chain.
Keita assured community members and stakeholders that the Board remains committed to supporting Olivia’s Farm and other initiatives aimed at strengthening agricultural production and agribusiness development in Gboawuta Panta District.
Several community members and farmers who attended the event expressed optimism that the factory will significantly improve palm processing activities in the district and enhance livelihoods.
The event concluded with the official dedication of the facility and a tour of the processing factory, attended by stakeholders, smallholder farmers, and citizens of Gboawuta Panta District who gathered to witness the milestone in the district’s agricultural development.
