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By Wilmot Konah | Email: dadekolly20@gmail.com
Gbarnga, Bong County – The Rice, Cassava and Vegetables Producers and Processors Union of Liberia has officially launched the sale of over 500 bags of locally processed rice in Bong County, in a move aimed at boosting domestic rice production and reducing Liberia’s reliance on imported staples.
Branded as “Living Manna Rice,” the 25-kilogram bags of parboiled and unparboiled rice are now available on the local market at $16.50 per bag. The launch event took place on Friday, August 1, 2025, in Gbarnga, with key stakeholders from the agriculture sector and development partners in attendance.
Former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, who performed the official launch, praised the initiative as a step toward achieving national food self-sufficiency. She emphasized the importance of empowering smallholder farmers and called on the government to increase its support for agriculture through the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
“If we are serious about feeding ourselves, these are the people who will make it happen,” Madam Taylor said. “Equipping them with the necessary tools and grants should be a national priority.”
David S. Kolleh, representing the Building Climate Resilience Project (BCR-P)—an initiative funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture—commended the Union’s effective use of project support to enhance production.
“This effort is aligned with the BCR-P’s mandate to strengthen the rice, vegetable, and livestock value chains,” Kolleh stated. “We reaffirm our commitment to supporting this and similar initiatives.”
According to Kolleh, the project aims to build climate resilience and productivity among smallholder farmers across Liberia, with a focus on sustainable agriculture as a solution to unemployment and food insecurity.
Speaking at the event, Rev. James S. Paye, President of the Union, described the launch as a milestone in the cooperative’s journey toward contributing to Liberia’s food basket.
“We are proud to be part of the solution,” Rev. Paye said. “With support from the Ministry of Agriculture, including power tillers, tricycles, and rice mills, our productivity has significantly improved.”
Rev. Paye added that the Union plans to scale up rice production and continue supplying Living Manna Rice to the market on a regular basis. He also encouraged more Liberians to return to agriculture and support national development through farming.
The launch of Living Manna Rice represents a growing movement among smallholder cooperatives to add value to locally grown products and increase their presence in Liberia’s formal market. The initiative is part of broader national efforts to improve food security and promote agricultural entrepreneurship.
