Gbarnga, Bong County – Farmers under the umbrella of Bong County Farmers Association have called on the government of Liberia to assist them with farmland preparations.
Report by Selma Lomax, [email protected]
“We farmers want the government to assist in talking to the families so that we can acquire more lands.
Most of the families that are not making use of their lands should be called upon so that they can negotiate and release the lands for farming on lease then negotiates with the government on what they will get” – Jerry Scott
Speaking with FrontPage Africa during a two-day Agriculture Trade Fair organized by the Bong County Agriculture Office in collaboration with ACDI-VOCAB and other partners, the Chairman of the group, Jerry Scott, urged the government to assist in talking to the families who are currently not using their lands to release those lands for farming in order to ensure food security in the country.
“We farmers want the government to assist in talking to the families so that we can acquire more lands.”
“Most of the families that are not making use of their lands should be called upon so that they can negotiate and release the lands for farming on lease then negotiate with the government on what they will get,” Scott said.
Scott says government needs to assist farmers with bulldozers, adding that most land in Bong forested and must be cultivated before planting which often involves the use of bulldozers and tractors.
Mentioning the lack of agriculture equipment as a major challenge farmers in the county are facing and emphasized that food production in the county will increase once government makes intervention.
“Where we rent most of all these things (equipment), they will tell you it is about LD$ 3,000 per day and they cannot even cultivate one hectare per day and that is about LD$ 6,000 for two days and before that we will still need to buy them fuel,” he said.
“So we want the government to put our organization into consideration so that our farmers can have access to bulldozer at cheaper rate.”
“Most of the youths are running away from farming because they don’t want to do dirty jobs, but if these things are put into place it will encourage the youths to come in.”
Scott said the organization has acquired about 500 hectares in Gbarnga axis and other districts from some families following several talks and negotiations.
“We are allocating to our farmers for 1,000 per hectares’,” he said, while reemphasizing the significance of government’s intervention in acquiring farm land.
“We do [DID] the survey; we want the government to come to our aid so that all these implementation can be done so that it will sustain food security in the county.”
Need For Farmers Holiday
Speaking at the occasion, Liberia’s Agriculture Minister, Dr. Moses Zinnah, underscored the need for a national holiday in the country.
Dr. Zinnah said farmers are important partners in maintaining the country’s economy and there was a need for a national day to recognize them for their invaluable serVices.
Dr. Zinnah pledged government unflinching support to the agriculture sector, noting that government is fully aware of the roles the sector plays in contributing to the nation’s income.
Also speaking, ACDI-VOCAB Chief of Party, YarkpazuoKolva, said the trade fair was meant to bring nongovernmental organizations together along with their farming groups for acquaintance.
Dubbed as “selling yourself and not your products”, the agriculture trade fair, according to Kolva, also set the stage for different nongovernmental organizations and farmers to establish contacts to network and collaborate.