Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalists Network (LAEJN) Promote informed journalism and public engagement on agricultural and environmental nalists Network (LAEJN)
By Emmanuel Degleh, Kakata, Margibi County
KONOLA, Margibi- A former representative candidate of Margibi’s fifth electoral district Alice Baysah has turned to investing in agriculture months after losing in the 2023 election as well as resigning her job with the Lutheran Church in Liberia.
In the wake of her unsuccessful bid for the district number five representative seat, Baysah has redirected her energy towards agriculture transforming her political defeat into communal prosperity by investing in the soil by initially investing over US 10,000 dollars in a small-scale agriculture project.
Baysah said she has no formal agricultural training but she has leveraged her traditional farming skills and the wealth of information available on the internet to cultivate a thriving cassava, mix vegetables, and swap rice on more than 15 hectares of land.
According to Baysah, agriculture was one of the major issues on her agenda when she campaigned for the representative post but decided to continue her agenda for agricultural venture in her private capacity since she did not get the mandate of the people to be elected as a lawmaker.
“I have invested up to ten thousand United States dollars since I started this process right after the election and I intend to continue for the next seven to eight years once I have the money and strength and even if leave others will continue” She noted.
Baysah’s journey from politics to farming is being heavily challenged by the fact that she is a novice farmer with no formal education in agriculture she heavily relied on upbringing and traditional farming knowledge as she also used the internet to learn new techniques and best practices in farming.
Despite being challenged by the effect of climate which causes her crops to die as a result of extremely hot weather, Baysah aims to expand her farm and help mostly those who supported her representative bid to be able to work in other get their daily ends meet.
“After the election what next, if we don’t do something for the people to get something for themselves they will regret following you” She added.
Baysah’s story has become an inspiration to many in Margibi who see being elected to public office as the only means of making a difference in their community but her determination and innovative approach is being celebrated as someone who matches her word with action.
