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By: Richard Williams
0775339618/ 0881084573/richardwilliamsp30@gmail.com
Suehn Mecca, Bomi county-A remarkable group of 35 predominance women in Allasala Town has formed the Human Initiative Agriculture Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society of Liberia to challenge stereotypes and promote sustainable farming.
The cooperative is appealing for material and financial support to sustain its activities and broaden its vision of agricultural success.
The women say their mission is self-sustainability in food production while supporting their children’s education and providing for their families.
Chairlady Madam Zoe Johnson notes that the group was formed after years of facing cultural barriers, including a perception that Bomi women are lazy.
Through cooperative effort, they aim to rewrite that narrative and demonstrate their capability in agriculture.
“We have been sitting down doing nothing here, so we decided to join this group Mr. Varney brought to us because people continue to say Bomi women are lazy people, so we want to prove them wrong,” Johnson said.
The members are actively clearing their plots to cultivate rice in the lowlands and peanuts in the highlands, with aspirations to expand into cocoa production in the future.
“We really need materials like hoes, shovels, cutlasses, rain boots, and even a machine to turn the swamp around, where we will grow more rice and plant peanuts on the highland,” the chairlady added.
Madam Sando Coorper, another member, encouraged her fellow women to join and form more groups to take advantage of the soil.
She expressed optimism that increased production would allow them to sell larger quantities and ease local economic hardship.
The cooperative’s chairperson, Mr. Josiah Varney, explained that the group initially registered with the aim of diversifying into various agricultural products, including cocoa and vegetables. While government support has been minimal, the members remain committed to driving the venture forward.
“We decided to come together as a cooperative, believing that we will be supported, but currently we are supporting ourselves. Our aim here is to see the lives of the people transformed through agriculture,” Johnson noted.
Operating across four zones, Varney said the focus extends beyond farming to transforming community livelihoods through sustainable practices. In addition to Allasala, the cooperative is active in Sensee, Brown, and Tehr communities.
The group’s appeal is a call to action for government bodies, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to recognize and support the invaluable role women play in agriculture.
The cooperative highlights the ongoing challenges faced by women in rural Liberia and emphasizes the potential of structured, community-led farming to improve food security, education, and family well-being.
