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By Moses Geply | Maryland County
MAHNKEN, Maryland County — More than 50 women involved in cassava production and processing in Mahnken, Karloway District, Maryland County, are expected to benefit from the donation of two cassava processing machines by Arise from Ashes, a non-political organization working to support community development and rural livelihoods.
The intervention seeks to reduce the physical burden associated with traditional cassava processing, improve production efficiency and create opportunities for women to increase their incomes through agricultural value addition.
In addition to the equipment, the beneficiaries will receive practical training and mentorship on the proper operation, handling and maintenance of the machines to ensure their effective use and long-term sustainability.
Cassava remains an important staple food and source of household income for many rural communities in Liberia. However, limited access to modern processing equipment continues to constrain productivity, particularly among women who rely on labor-intensive traditional methods.
Presenting the machines during a handover ceremony held over the weekend in Mahnken, Emmanuel Collins, an agroecology trainer representing Arise from Ashes, said the donation was intended to address some of the challenges confronting women engaged in cassava processing.
“We understand the challenges the women go through in processing cassava,” Collins said. “These machines are being provided to help reduce the hard labour and enable them to process more cassava products in less time.”
He explained that the intervention goes beyond providing equipment, as the organization also intends to strengthen the technical capacity of the beneficiaries through training and mentorship.
The planned capacity-building support will focus on helping the women understand how to properly operate and maintain the donated machines, improve processing efficiency and minimize equipment breakdowns resulting from improper handling.
The initiative is expected to benefit more than 50 women, providing them with opportunities to expand their cassava processing activities and improve their economic prospects.
Collins expressed optimism that combining access to appropriate technology with practical skills development would help the women maximize the benefits of the donation and sustain their processing activities over time.
Receiving the machines on behalf of the beneficiaries, Annie Thomas, Chairlady of the Konoso Cassava Project in Karloway District, expressed appreciation to Arise from Ashes for responding to the needs of women engaged in agricultural production and processing.
“This donation means a lot to us because cassava processing has been a difficult task for many of our women,” Thomas said. “These machines will help to reduce the stress and time we spend processing cassava.”
Thomas noted that the equipment would help address some of the difficulties women face in processing cassava manually, particularly the considerable time and physical effort required to prepare the crop for household consumption and commercial purposes.
She welcomed the planned training and mentorship, recognizing the importance of equipping beneficiaries with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to operate the machines effectively.
Thomas assured the organization that the women would take responsibility for the proper use, care and maintenance of the equipment to ensure that it continues to serve the community.
Meanwhile, Brown Zobah, Chairman of Mahnken-Karloway, welcomed the donation on behalf of the community, describing it as a practical investment in women’s economic empowerment and local agricultural development.
“This is a practical contribution to the development of our community,” Zobah said. “Supporting our women with equipment like this will not only reduce their hard work but can also help improve their productivity and income.”
He commended Arise from Ashes for responding to the needs of rural women, emphasizing that access to modern agricultural equipment can play an important role in strengthening local food production and creating economic opportunities.
For many women in Mahnken, cassava processing has traditionally involved hours of physically demanding work, including peeling, washing, grating and preparing the crop for consumption or sale.
These labour-intensive activities often limit the quantities of cassava women can process and reduce the time available for other productive and household responsibilities.
With the introduction of the two machines, the beneficiaries are expected to improve processing efficiency, reduce manual labour and potentially increase the volume of cassava products available for local markets.
The accompanying training and mentorship are also expected to help the women develop the technical confidence needed to manage the equipment responsibly and maintain continuous production.
The initiative highlights the growing importance of combining agricultural technology with practical capacity development to improve the participation of rural women in agricultural value chains.
For the more than 50 women expected to benefit in Mahnken, the donation represents an opportunity to transition from labour-intensive processing methods toward more efficient production, with the potential to improve household incomes, strengthen food security and contribute to the local economy.
