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By Nukanah Kollie | [email protected]
In Sergeant Kollie’s Town (SKT), a peri-urban community in central Liberia, farmer Joe N. Kermon—known locally as “Joe the Goat”—is gaining recognition for his role in promoting food self-sufficiency and healthier meat production. Once a small-scale goat herder, Kermon has become a notable figure in Liberia’s agricultural sector, known for his resilience, ethical farming practices, and commitment to reducing the country’s reliance on imported meat.
From raising his first few goats in 1999 with modest earnings after high school, Kermon has built a thriving livestock business comprising nearly 50 goats, 36 sheep, and a growing poultry operation. Today, his farm not only sustains his family, including funding his five children’s education and building a five-bedroom house in Kakata—it also provides an alternative to imported meat products.
Kermon’s commitment to locally raised, chemical-free meat is gaining attention as Liberia faces a public health crisis linked to imported frozen meats, especially poultry. According to Joseph N. Kodah Sr., President of the Liberia Poultry Federation, many imported meats are laced with preservatives and additives that have been linked to rising rates of hypertension, kidney failure, and skin conditions in the country.
“The imported meat is full of grease and chemicals. It causes sickness,” Kermon says. “My animals are raised naturally. They are healthier for our people.”
His livestock are fed with natural materials gathered from surrounding bush lands, including cassava leaves, iron leaf, and bonhomme leaf—an effort that not only maintains animal health but reduces reliance on commercial feed.
Kermon’s path to success hasn’t been smooth. In his early days, he unknowingly purchased stolen animals, leading to financial loss and police involvement. But instead of giving up, he turned the experience into a learning opportunity.
“I no longer buy at night or from the roadside,” he says. “I only buy in communities where sellers can be identified and trusted.” Now, every transaction is documented, and he works closely with local authorities to maintain transparency.
To safeguard his investment, he built a secure wooden-and-metal warehouse and employs security guards to protect his animals around the clock.
Livestock farming in Liberia comes with serious challenges, including disease outbreaks like Newcastle which devastates poultry farms during the rainy season. As described by Roland Varkpeh, Director of Animal Production at the Ministry of Agriculture, the disease causes respiratory and neurological symptoms and spreads rapidly.
Kermon has faced these losses firsthand but continues to adapt, rotating feed and investing in local labor to forage fresh plants for his animals. “Feeding them the same thing every day is dangerous,” he warns. “I spend about L$500 daily on feed, but it’s worth it to keep them healthy.”
According to Liberia’s 2024 Agriculture Census conducted by the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS), there are over 67,000 goats and nearly 500,000 chickens being raised nationwide. While these figures show promise, farmers like Kermon still grapple with inadequate access to veterinary care, land, fencing, and proper regulation of meat imports.
“We need more land, more fencing wire, better access to medicine and vaccinations,” he emphasizes. “With the right support, we can expand and supply even more healthy meat to Liberians
Kermon’s efforts represent more than personal success—they are part of a broader solution to Liberia’s trade imbalance. In 2024, Liberia imported $1.61 billion worth of goods but exported only $1.03 billion, resulting in a $580 million deficit, according to LISGIS. Supporting local enterprises like Kermon’s can help reverse this trend and boost national resilience.
With an eye toward expansion and long-term sustainability, Kermon is actively seeking investors, development partners, and agricultural stakeholders to help scale his operations. He welcomes collaboration from both local and international actors interested in promoting clean, locally produced meat. Far from being a closed-off venture, Kermon’s farm is open to visits from researchers, potential partners, and community members who want to learn more about his methods and explore opportunities for partnership.
In an era where public health, environmental sustainability, and economic sovereignty face mounting challenges, Joe the Goat is demonstrating that grassroots innovation, integrity, and determination can be powerful drivers of national transformation. At a time when Liberia remains heavily reliant on imported food, often of questionable quality, Kermon’s locally rooted approach offers a compelling alternative. His success shows that with the right blend of traditional knowledge and adaptive practices, smallholder farmers can play a central role in addressing critical national issues such as food insecurity, rural unemployment, and trade imbalance. Joe the Goat’s story is not just about farming—it’s about reclaiming control over what Liberians eat, how they live, and how they build a more self-reliant future.
His message is clear and consistent: “Support local. Eat clean. Build Liberia.” For Kermon, these words are more than a slogan—they represent a call to action for Liberians to rethink their consumption habits, support homegrown enterprises, and invest in the health and economic future of their communities. By choosing locally raised, chemical-free meat over imported alternatives, he believes Liberians can improve national health outcomes, strengthen the domestic economy, and reduce dependence on foreign goods. It’s a simple but powerful philosophy that ties personal well-being to national development—one meal, one farmer, and one community at a time.
