On November 16, 2024, Panta Pride, a prominent development organisation in Bong County’s District Number Four, held a successful daylong Agricultural Thanksgiving event in Zota and Panta Districts.
By: Nukanah Kollie, Contributing Writer
The event was a vibrant celebration of the progress made in advancing local agriculture, with an emphasis on the empowerment of women and the role of sustainable farming practices in transforming communities.
The gathering attracted a diverse group of attendees, including Liberia’s Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Alexander Nuta; Foundation for Women (FFW) Founder and Executive Director, Deborah Lindholm; Collective Impact United CEO, Don Turner; Bong County Superintendent, Loleyah Hawa Norris; local officials from the Republic of Guinea; and key community leaders, including chiefs, elders, and local citizens from the surrounding towns.
A Vision for Sustainable Growth and Global Impact
Panta Pride has been spearheading a number of large-scale agricultural projects across Bong County, focusing on cultivating rice, kidney beans, and diabetes-friendly rice, as well as rehabilitating essential farm-to-market roads throughout the region.
At the opening of the agricultural tour and unveiling program in Shankpallai and Garmue towns, Panta Pride’s Executive Director, Mr. Quanuquanei Alfred Karmue explained that the ongoing agricultural activities in the district are part of a “collective impact” model, involving a partnership between foundations and corporations.
“We’ve created a platform that attracts international partners to a region many would overlook,” Karmue said. “Our aim is to commercialize farming, starting at the micro-level but with a vision to scale globally. While we may not be there yet, we’re already producing something meaningful that can eventually find its way to markets beyond our own borders.”Mr.Karmue adds.
Karmue also indicated that the project, in collaboration with Collective Impact United, Foundation for Women, and other global partners, begins with communities coming together to tackle the hard work of farming.
“We’re introducing mechanisms that incorporate mechanised farming and precision agriculture,” he explained. “For example, once a farm is set up on a micro-level, we can apply modern techniques to manage larger areas, such as a 24-acre plot within a 500-acre farm.”
Quanuquanei Karmue disclosed that the agricultural technicians at Panta Pride are using innovative farming practices, such as soil testing and strategic planting, to optimize the land. “We’ve created a model where women can take ownership of the process,” he said. “Instead of relying on manual labor, they now have access to machinery that handles planting, harvesting, and processing.
This enables women to focus on nurturing crops and increasing their productivity. Over time, many of these women will be earning significant income in the future.” He asserts.
During the event, eight women farmers, who are part of the initiative, were recognized for their leadership in managing three-acre plots in the region. These women are paid every two weeks stipend of $9,000 Liberian Dollars, funded by the Foundation for Women, as part of the ongoing partnership with Panta Pride. The program has been life-changing for many of these women, allowing them to provide for their families and break free from the constraints of subsistence farming.
Women Share Their Stories of Transformation
Ms. Jestina Mulbah, one of the eight women leading the program, spoke to reporters during the event in Shankpallai Town, Zota District. Representing her group of women farmers, she expressed deep gratitude for the support provided by Panta Pride, Foundation for Women, and Collective Impact United.
“This has been a rewarding moment in our lives and families,” Ms. Mulbah said. “For many of us, we’ve never had access to the kind of resources that are now available to us. The support we’ve received has allowed us to grow, not just as farmers, but as women who can make decisions about our own livelihoods. We will use the funding and resources wisely to improve our farms and increase our productivity.”
Mulbah emphasised that the training and mechanized equipment provided by Panta Pride and its partners have allowed them to move beyond traditional, manual farming methods. “Before, it was all about hard physical labor, but now we have machinery that helps with planting and harvesting. This makes a huge difference,” she added. “We are able to focus on nurturing the crops and watching them grow, instead of spending all our time on the physical work of planting and harvesting by hand.”
For these women, the benefits of the program extend far beyond financial rewards. The empowerment they have gained has reshaped their roles within their families and communities. “We are no longer just subsistence farmers,” Ms. Mulbah explained. “We are part of a growing agricultural movement that is changing our lives and our future.”
Support from Key Partners
Deborah Lindholm, Founder and Executive Director of Foundation for Women, also expressed her enthusiasm about the program’s success. “What is especially exciting to me is seeing how we are perfecting this model, allowing women to lead the way with the support of technology, science, and community,” Lindholm said. “These women are nurturing the land like they would do their own families. It’s inspiring to see how far we’ve come, and I know that we can continue to build on this success to create lasting change.”
Don Turner, CEO of Collective Impact United, praised the ongoing partnership and the significant role women have played in the project’s success. “The transformation we’ve witnessed here in Bong County has been incredible,” Turner said. “What was once a tropical rainforest has been turned into productive farmland, and this progress is only possible because of the hard work and dedication of these women. They are the heart of this project, and their efforts are what make this all possible.”
Government Support and Future Prospects
Dr. Alexander Nuta, Liberia’s Minister of Agriculture, also spoke at the event, commending Panta Pride and its partners for their important contributions to advancing agriculture in Bong County. He assured the gathering that the government fully supports the initiatives led by Panta Pride and is committed to helping scale these efforts.
“This is an essential contribution to our government’s agriculture agenda,” Nuta said. “We look forward to partnering with Panta Pride on land development and lowland farming projects in the coming year. We are committed to supporting initiatives that empower women and increase local productivity. We will work alongside Panta Pride to ensure the success and sustainability of these efforts.”
The event concluded with an optimistic outlook for the future of agriculture in District Number Four. With continued collaboration between Panta Pride, its partners, and the local community, there is hope for a future where women are at the forefront of agricultural innovation, and where sustainable farming practices lead to increased food security and economic growth across Bong County and Liberia as a whole.
According to the report, Panta Pride’s agricultural initiatives, alongside the support of Foundation for Women and Collective Impact United, have set a new standard for development work in rural Liberia. With plans to expand and scale up these efforts, the organization is poised to continue driving change, creating opportunities for local communities, and ultimately contributing to Liberia’s broader agricultural goals. Through these projects, Panta Pride is not only helping to feed families but also empowering women to lead in the fight against poverty, ultimately ensuring that these communities thrive for generations to come.
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