Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalists Network (LAEJN) Promote informed journalism and public engagement on agricultural and environmental nalists Network (LAEJN)
By Josiah Pailay/+231881913880 / +231775260307/ josiahpailay96@gmail.com
Kunian Farm, situated in Suakoko District, Bong County, is doing more than cultivating rice—it’s cultivating hope, resilience, and economic opportunity. The establishment is a growing agricultural enterprise in central Liberia, emerging as a powerful example of how community-led initiatives can fuel national development.
Kunian Farm is answering that call through practical, scalable efforts aimed at achieving food self-sufficiency and revitalizing rural livelihoods by combining modern agricultural techniques with traditional knowledge to boost local food production. The farm has invested in improved seed varieties to increase yields and ensure year-round productivity. It actively sources labor and materials from surrounding communities, thereby injecting income into local economies and reducing reliance on imported goods.
In addition to producing high-quality rice, Kunian Farm supports value addition through processing and packaging initiatives, allowing the farm to supply both retail and bulk markets. This integrated value chain approach not only improves food availability but also generates multiple streams of income and employment along the production cycle.
Founded by Whounhele Tokpah Wheeler, a former legislative candidate for Bong County’s District #3, Kunian Farm is proof that leadership doesn’t end at the ballot box. After placing third in the 2023 elections, Wheeler redirected his political energy toward agriculture, channeling his vision into a mission to reduce Liberia’s overreliance on imported food and empower local communities through farming.
“Our mission is to help Liberia feed itself,” Wheeler told the Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalists Network (LAEJN). “We are producing sweet country rice at an affordable cost to reduce imports, support local farmers, and stimulate grassroots economies.”
The farm’s rice—locally grown and processed—is steadily building a reputation across Bong County for its quality and affordability. But Kunian Farm’s impact extends far beyond its product. By offering training, mentorship, and employment opportunities, the farm is becoming a hub for youth empowerment and agricultural innovation.
Young people from across Suakoko District now engage in hands-on farming, learning valuable skills that prepare them to become the next generation of agripreneurs. This inclusive model is helping to reverse rural unemployment and outmigration, persistent challenges in Liberia’s post-war recovery.
Kunian Farm also serves as a practical example of private-sector leadership complementing government policy. Its success reinforces President Boakai’s call for Liberians to “think agriculture” and invest in domestic food production to achieve long-term food security.
As the country grapples with high food import bills and growing youth unemployment, the Kunian Farm model demonstrates what is possible when vision meets action. It reminds us that meaningful change often begins at the local level—with a plow, a seed, and a commitment to feed a nation.
