BONG MINES, Fuamah District – Farmers in Bong Mines, Fuamah District were given reasons to smile when a high-power delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture led by new Agriculture Minister Dr. Alexander Nuetah affirmed the government’s commitment to support them boost production.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
The farmers, under the banner Fuamah District Multipurpose Cooperative Society (FDMCS) own a vast land used for rice cultivation.
With over 986 members, the FDMC has been a beneficiary of a grant intervention by the Ministry of Agriculture and partners under its Smallholder Agriculture Transformation and Agribusiness Revitalization Project (STAR- P), and Rural Economic Transformation Project (RETRAP). Through these projects, farmers in Bong and other parts of the country, under the past administration, received various support- ranging from supply of mechanized farming equipment to seedlings and hands-on training to boost cultivation.
However, the projects have ended, their conclusion coincided with the inception of a new administration with a new development plan – the ARREST Agenda – an acronym representing Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism.
Dr. Nuetah, speaking during the cooperative’s relaunch, announced collaboration with the FDMCS to facilitate resource pooling, knowledge sharing, and collective marketing of produce. He emphasized the importance of farmer collaboration to overcome challenges and seize opportunities in agriculture.
Dr. Nuetah noted that agriculture is given a high priority under the ARREST Agenda, and their visit to the farmers sends a clear message that the Ministry of Agriculture is ready to fully implement the agriculture component of the government’s flagship development program.
“The president is not only concerned about farming, but for farmers to be empowered and add value to their lives,” Dr. Nuetah said. “We came here to launch this so that we are not giving people cutlasses to farm, but to give you equipment to enhance your productivity. I will support you with whatever is needed to develop this farm.”
He also stressed the importance of collaboration among farmers and the need for them to work together to overcome challenges and seize opportunities in the agricultural sector, pledging the government’s fullest support towards the development of the hectares.
According to him, as per the President’s intention of wanting farmers to use farming to improve their lives, the Ministry of Agriculture, under his leadership will ensure that all local farmers across Liberia will farm for income generation and not for feeding alone, like was done in the past.
Meanwhile, Minister Nuetah also disclosed that he will work along with the STAR- P and RETRAP projects to build some warehouses and a rice mill, which will include a bigger processing plant that will be able to process all harvested rice by the cooperative and its surrounding.
He also assured them that once they remain committed to producing 2,000 metric tons annually, he will work along with the Ministry of Commerce to commit the government to cut down the importation of rice by 2,000 metric tons to ensure that local farmers’ rice is sold on the market.
In response to the ministry’s pledge to continue support, Mr. Prince D. Peter, Chairman of the Fuamah District Multi-Purpose Farmers’ Cooperative, conveyed heartfelt appreciation for the augmented assistance extended to farmers in Bong Mines. Chairman Peter pledged unwavering commitment from the cooperative to intensify efforts in expanding agricultural operations and enhancing yields in the forthcoming season.
He described the intervention of the government, coupled with the donation of the marching grants, as a relief package, noting that it has enabled them to expand production from 100 hectares to 500 last farming season.
He added, “Since the end of the civil crisis and in the history of the cooperative, this is the first time we have been able to expand production in such a manner, and since the establishment of the cooperative, we can now boast of vast swampland, even though production is always low.”
At the same time, several local farmers expressed optimism about the government’s plans and welcomed the relaunch of the cooperative, stating that working together through the cooperative will help them access new markets, increase their incomes, and improve their livelihoods.
