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Sarah Winnie Ellis, Greenville,Sinoe County
The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) in Sinoe County has called on Golden Veroleum Liberia (GVL) to fulfill its agricultural livelihood support obligations to smallholder farmers as outlined in the company’s concession agreement with the Government of Liberia.
The call follows a review conducted by the MOA technical team, led by County Agriculture Coordinator Prosper Maxwell Sahyee, which assessed GVL’s level of compliance with its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitments. The assessment focused on the Livelihoods Program under Article 15: Community Resources, Section 15.2 (Support for Qualified Liberian Farmers).
The review found that provisions intended to boost agricultural productivity and improve the living standards of farmers in GVL-affected communities had not been fully carried out. Under the concession agreement, GVL is obligated to provide farm advisory services to help smallholders adopt improved practices, supply essential inputs such as seeds and fertilizers at cost to enhance production, and collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture and research institutions to strengthen extension services and promote agricultural research.
Coordinator Sahyee said the successful implementation of these measures is critical to ensuring that rural households benefit directly from GVL’s operations.
“The agreement is clear. Our farmers deserve the promised support through farm inputs, advisory services, and extension programs. We are calling on GVL to act in good faith by honoring these commitments. This is not just about compliance, but about building sustainable livelihoods for the people of Sinoe,” he said.
He added that the Ministry remains committed to monitoring concession agreements and working with concessionaires, local authorities, and community leaders to strengthen agricultural development in the county. “As a government institution, we will continue to monitor and engage to make sure that no farmer is left behind,” he emphasized.
Local farming groups in affected communities welcomed the Ministry’s stance, noting that a lack of access to farm inputs and advisory services has limited productivity and kept many households dependent on traditional methods. They expressed optimism that GVL will prioritize agricultural livelihood support as part of its broader CSR program.
The Ministry’s intervention is part of a wider effort to ensure that agricultural concessions in Liberia contribute not only to employment and national revenue but also to food production, poverty reduction, and rural development.
Sinoe County, one of Liberia’s major agricultural regions, depends heavily on smallholder farming for food security and income generation. Stakeholders say that effective collaboration between the MOA, concessionaires, and farmers could transform agriculture into a more sustainable and profitable sector for rural communities.
