Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalists Network (LAEJN) Promote informed journalism and public engagement on agricultural and environmental nalists Network (LAEJN)
By Judoemue M. Kollie
ZOWIENTA, Bong County — As Liberia intensifies efforts to achieve 70 percent rice self-sufficiency within the next five years, one locally driven farming enterprise in Bong County is steadily emerging as a model of rural agricultural transformation.
Bread Basket Best’s Farming Company (BBBFCO), based in Zowienta, is expanding its rice production operations by opening 30 new acres in Quoikaporta, in addition to its existing 18 acres of lowland rice fields in Zowienta. The expansion reflects growing momentum among Liberian-owned agribusinesses seeking to boost domestic food production and reduce dependence on imported rice.
What began just four years ago as a modest 6.5-acre initiative has now evolved into a growing commercial rice project supported technically by the Ministry of Agriculture and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFA)
Despite relying largely on manual farming methods, BBBFCO produced 206 bags of polished rice in 2025 from 48 acres of cultivated land. Each bag weighed 25 kilograms — a significant milestone for a company still operating without major mechanized equipment.
According to farm manager Philip P. Kermue, the company’s production capacity could increase dramatically with access to modern agricultural machinery.
“We are committed to sustainable farming, but the lack of access to mechanized equipment limits our ability to increase production,” Kermue said, noting that two power tillers, a combine harvester, and adequate fertilizer could potentially triple annual output.
BBBFCO is among several farming groups receiving government support aimed at expanding national agricultural productivity and strengthening Liberia’s food security agenda.
Beyond production gains, the project is also creating tangible social and economic impact in Bong County. Kermue said the company currently employs 60 regular workers, while seasonal laborers continue to benefit from temporary employment opportunities generated by the farming cycle.
He said the project is helping improve livelihoods by creating income opportunities for rural households and reinforcing Bong County’s status as one of Liberia’s key agricultural breadbasket regions, alongside Nimba County and Lofa County.
“With continued support from government and partners, we want to build a rice project that remains sustainable long after donor support ends,” Kermue added.
For many residents, the project’s impact extends beyond agriculture into household survival and community stability.
Gorma Quoiquoi, an elderly resident of Zowienta, said the initiative has supported her family for nearly four years through steady employment opportunities.
She expressed appreciation to BBBFCO, the Ministry of Agriculture, and International Fund for Agricultural Development, noting that workers are paid every two weeks, enabling many families to provide food, pay school fees, and meet other basic needs.
In a further effort to strengthen local value addition, BBBFCO has established a mini rice mill in Zowienta to serve both its own processing needs and surrounding farming communities.
The facility includes threshing and drying floors where unhusked rice is cleaned and prepared before milling. Current processing equipment can handle up to 100 bags of rice per day. However, management says rising production levels and increasing community demand now require an industrial-scale milling machine to ensure faster processing, higher quality output, and reduced post-harvest losses.
Kermue explained that improved milling technology would also help communities transition away from the labor-intensive practice of pounding rice manually with mortar and pestle toward more efficient mechanized processing systems.
Meanwhile, BBBFCO Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ben Dolo Diaminah described mechanization as critical to the company’s long-term vision.
He praised the continued support provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, particularly in areas of technical training, reimbursement services, and agricultural extension support.
“The training, technical support, and reimbursement services provided by the MOA and IFAD have been essential to our progress,” Dr. Diaminah said.
He also commended the Central Agricultural Research Institute for conducting research and analyses that contribute to healthy and productive harvests.
“With partnerships like these, we are confident that full mechanization is within reach,” he added.
As Liberia pushes to strengthen domestic rice production and reduce import dependency, initiatives like BBBFCO demonstrate how local farming enterprises, backed by strategic partnerships and targeted investments, can drive both agricultural growth and rural economic development.
