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By Nathan Kollie
BONG COUNTY, LIBERIA — The Ministry of Agriculture’s Regional Agriculture Coordinator for Bong, Nimba and Lofa Counties, Madam Zipporah Page, has welcomed the Government of Liberia’s growing investment in agricultural mechanization, describing the provision of modern farming equipment as an important step toward improving productivity, reducing manual labour and strengthening national food security.
Page also disclosed plans by the Ministry to introduce specialized training for agricultural technicians, District Agriculture Officers and cooperative leaders to ensure the effective operation, servicing and maintenance of newly acquired agricultural machinery.
Speaking to journalists recently at one of the Ministry’s agricultural demonstration sites, Page said the government’s mechanization initiative represents a significant opportunity to transform farming practices in Liberia, where many smallholder farmers continue to depend heavily on traditional tools and labour-intensive production methods.
She noted that access to modern agricultural machinery could help farmers cultivate larger areas, improve land preparation, reduce production costs over time and increase agricultural output.
According to Page, the government’s investment in mechanization is consistent with its broader agricultural development priorities under the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, which identifies agriculture as a major driver of economic growth, employment creation and national development.
She emphasized that the Ministry of Agriculture remains committed to supporting farmers with the equipment, technical knowledge and institutional services necessary to transition from predominantly subsistence farming toward more productive and commercially viable agricultural enterprises.
Beyond the provision of machinery, Page stressed the importance of developing the technical expertise required to operate and maintain agricultural equipment.
She disclosed that the Ministry is preparing training programs targeting agricultural technicians, District Agriculture Officers and leaders of farming cooperatives who will play important roles in supporting mechanized farming activities.
The planned training will focus on the proper operation, routine servicing and maintenance of agricultural machinery, with the aim of minimizing equipment breakdowns and ensuring the sustainability of the government’s investment.
Page explained that providing machinery without adequate technical capacity could undermine the intended benefits of agricultural mechanization, particularly in rural communities where access to qualified equipment operators and maintenance services remains limited.
She expressed confidence that strengthening the skills of agricultural personnel and cooperative leaders would improve equipment management and enable more farmers to benefit from mechanization services.
The initiative is also expected to help address longstanding challenges associated with manual land preparation, which often limits the acreage farmers can cultivate and affects their ability to plant crops within appropriate agricultural seasons.
Page believes that combining modern equipment with practical training and technical support could improve production efficiency and contribute to increased domestic food production.
However, the long-term success of mechanization will also depend on farmers’ ability to access the equipment at affordable rates, the availability of spare parts and the establishment of reliable maintenance systems.
Page Urges Youth to Embrace Agriculture as a Business
Meanwhile, Page, a respected Liberian agricultural researcher and the country’s first female rice breeder, has challenged young Liberians to reconsider their perceptions of agriculture and recognize the sector as a viable source of employment, innovation and entrepreneurship.
She said agriculture offers significant economic opportunities beyond traditional crop cultivation, particularly in mechanization services, agricultural research, food processing, technology and agribusiness development.
“Agriculture is the backbone of any developing nation, and young people must see it as an opportunity for growth, innovation, and economic empowerment,” Page said.
She encouraged young people to develop the technical and entrepreneurial skills needed to participate meaningfully in Liberia’s evolving agricultural sector.
According to Page, greater youth participation in agriculture is essential to building a productive and competitive sector capable of creating jobs, increasing food production and supporting sustainable economic development.
Her call comes amid growing recognition of the need to attract a new generation of skilled agricultural professionals and entrepreneurs who can contribute to modernizing Liberia’s food production systems.
Mechanization Seen as Key to Food Security
Liberia’s agricultural sector continues to face significant production challenges, including limited access to modern farming equipment, inadequate infrastructure and heavy reliance on manual labour.
For many smallholder farmers, land preparation remains one of the most labour-intensive stages of agricultural production, often restricting farm expansion and reducing productivity.
The government’s ongoing mechanization efforts are intended to address some of these constraints by improving access to tractors, power tillers and other agricultural implements that can support more efficient farming operations.
Agricultural mechanization is also expected to complement broader government efforts to strengthen domestic food production, improve farmers’ livelihoods and reduce Liberia’s dependence on imported food, particularly rice.
Page maintained that sustained government support, combined with technical training and greater participation by young people, would be critical to ensuring that agricultural mechanization delivers lasting benefits to farmers and rural communities.
Her remarks underscore the importance of moving beyond equipment procurement toward building the technical capacity and support systems necessary to make modern agricultural machinery accessible, functional and economically beneficial to Liberia’s farming population.
