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By: Richard Williams/ 0775339618/ 0881084573/ richardwilliamsp30@gmail.com
ALASALA TOWN, Bomi County— The Humah Initiative Agriculture Multi-purpose Cooperative has officially launched the harvest of four acres of lowland rice in Alasala Town, Suehn Mecca District, with the Ministry of Agriculture pledging support to strengthen local farming activities.
The Tuesday harvest ceremony brought together local officials, farmers, and community members, including Bomi County Agriculture Coordinator Samuel Smith.
Speaking on the history of the cooperative, its head, Josiah Varney, said the group began organizing in 2023 through self-help initiatives, with members relying largely on their personal contributions to keep the organization operational.
Varney said, “We started organizing ourselves in 2023, and since then, our members have been making personal contributions to keep the cooperative going.”
He disclosed that with assistance from the Cooperative Development Agency (CDA), the cooperative is now fully registered and has obtained the necessary legal documents, including a bank account.
Varney said the group engages in vegetable farming, lowland rice production, and cocoa cultivation, but continues to face major challenges that limit its growth and productivity.
He appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture for urgent assistance, citing a shortage of farming tools, rain gear, and external financial support.
“We need farming tools and financial support to improve our production. For now, we are depending on contributions from our members to keep the cooperative running,”Varney explained.
Meanwhile, Bomi County Agriculture Coordinator Samuel Smith reaffirmed the Ministry of Agriculture’s commitment to supporting farming cooperatives as part of efforts to increase agricultural production across Liberia.
Smith said several farmers have benefited from government assistance, including farming equipment and financial support. He encouraged members of the Humah Initiative Agriculture Cooperative to remain united and called for greater participation by women in farming activities.
“We want to see farmers working together and women fully involved in agriculture because farming is important to our country’s development,”Smith said.
The county agriculture coordinator also announced that the cooperative has been earmarked to benefit from Ministry support under the STAR Project.
Smith added that the government is strengthening its monitoring and supervision mechanisms to ensure that agricultural assistance reaches the intended beneficiaries.
“The days when support was given to only a few people, or misused, are over. We are putting measures in place to ensure that the right people benefit,”he stated.
For his part, STAR-P Bomi County Focal Person James Kollie confirmed that the Humah Initiative Agriculture Cooperative has been included under the Inland Valley Swamp Project.
Kollie said approximately eight farming groups in Bomi County have already benefited from the project, adding that the Humah Initiative cooperative is in line to receive assistance.
“The group has already been captured under the project, and they are in the queue to benefit from the support,”Kollie disclosed.
The development has raised hopes among cooperative members that government intervention could help address their farming challenges, improve productivity, and expand rice production in the county.
The cooperative’s leadership is now looking forward to the promised assistance to strengthen its operations and contribute to food production and agricultural development in Bomi County.
