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By: Nukanah Kollie | kollienukanah94@gmail.com
Bong County, Liberia – Women are driving a new wave of agricultural empowerment through the Future Farmers of Liberia Empowerment for Women, an initiative transforming farming and community livelihoods in central Liberia.
Established in 2019 by a group of young graduates, the organization secured 23.5 acres of farmland near Tucker Gate, outside Gbarnga, Bong County, in 2020. It now employs 15 permanent staff, engages dozens of volunteers, and provides daily jobs for rural women.
General Manager Matthew Q. Kollie said the project was launched to turn academic knowledge into practice while empowering women and youth.
“It all started with Nupolu, a friend, who gathered his colleagues in 2019 to register the organization. By 2020, we secured this farmland in Bong,” he said. “We want this place to serve as a learning space for young Liberians who want to take agriculture seriously.”
The farm focuses on maize production while expanding into vegetables, fish farming, and other crops. It also runs business training programs for rural women and market traders, offering small loans to sustain households.
“What we earn from here is what we use to pay our staff and also extend support to women in petty trade,” Kollie explained.
On the fields, women form the core of daily operations—from planting and weeding to harvesting. Their income helps support children’s education and household survival.
“Agriculture is the bedrock of every nation,” said Patricia M. Mulbah, a technician and graduate of Cuttington University College of Agriculture and Sustainable Development. “Corn is our major crop, but we also grow pepper, radish, okra, greens, and we are expanding into fish farming and watermelon.”
Mulbah urged young Liberians to embrace agriculture as a viable career. “It is better to start small in agriculture. This is where opportunities can grow. I want to encourage graduates and even high school leavers to enter the field rather than wait for big office jobs,” she said.
Among the daily workers is Annie Sackie, a five-month pregnant woman who continues to weed fields to provide for her children.
“I come here every day to work so I can support my children in school,” she said. “The money I earn is small, but it helps me buy food and pay their fees. Even though I am pregnant, I cannot stay at home. This work is what we depend on.”
In four years, the farm has grown into a hub of agricultural activity, including maize drying warehouses, vegetable plots, and fish ponds. It has also introduced climate-smart practices such as water management and crop diversification.
However, limited access to mechanized equipment remains a major challenge.
“We need power tillers, tractors, even yellow machines. With more support, we can expand across Liberia, beyond Bong to Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Sinoe, and other counties,” Mulbah said.
Kollie appealed for investment to sustain and expand the project. “If you come to Future Farmers, you see the results with your own eyes. We are asking for support to expand and mechanize.”
The initiative is attracting attention from government agencies and NGOs as a model for women-led agricultural development. By combining training, production, and empowerment, the Future Farmers of Liberia is showing how agribusiness can drive both economic growth and social progress.
Despite challenges, its leaders and workers remain determined. With women at the forefront, the project underscores that Liberia’s future still lies in its soil—and in the hands of those who cultivate it.
