Bealay Town, Buu-Yao District Five, Nimba County — Nimba County Electoral District Number 5 Representative Kortor Sehwongbay Kwagrue has launched the harvest of the Buu-Yao Concerned Women Agriculture Farm in Bealay Town, calling on individuals, institutions and development partners to support rural women’s agricultural initiatives.
By Franklin Doloquee
The ceremony, held over the weekend, brought together a large gathering of women farmers, community leaders, elders, youths and invited guests.
Representative Kwagrue was joined by Nimba County Superintendent Kou Meapeah Gono, staffers from the Office of Vice President Jeremiah Koung and several local authorities from Buu-Yao District.
The event celebrated the progress made by the Buu-Yao Concerned Women group, whose members have cultivated a community farm as part of efforts to strengthen food production and create sustainable livelihoods for women in the district.
Appeal for Financial Support
Speaking at the harvesting ceremony, Representative Kwagrue commended the women for their commitment and hard work, describing agriculture as a practical pathway to economic independence for rural communities.
He disclosed that the group has developed plans to expand into fish farming, beekeeping, crop production and cattle rearing.
According to the lawmaker, the women need an initial amount of L$8 million to begin implementing the projects.
“When we came together and did our planning, our target was L$8 million to start,” Representative Kwagrue said.
“We wanted to do fish farming, beekeeping, agriculture and raising cattle, but we don’t have the money.”
He explained that he had earlier contributed L$1.3 million to empower the rural women, while staffers in the Office of Vice President Koung pledged an additional L$1 million to be provided during the Vice President’s tour of the district.
Representative Kwagrue said these contributions represent a beginning, but more support is needed to turn the women’s plans into fully operational projects.
He urged residents, businesspeople, local organizations and government institutions to invest in the initiative, stressing that empowering women would benefit entire families and communities.
“Economic independence for women is central to the development of our district,” he said. “When our women are supported, they can feed their children, send them to school, and contribute meaningfully to community development.”
Call for Unity and Development
Beyond agriculture, Representative Kwagrue used the occasion to call for unity among residents and political leaders in Buu-Yao District and Nimba County at large.
He argued that elections should produce good governance, cooperation and development, rather than leaving communities divided or encouraging citizens to see elected officials mainly as sources of personal financial assistance.
According to Representative Kwagrue, constantly approaching public officials for money risks reducing the relationship between communities and their representatives to financial transactions.
He said citizens and leaders should instead focus on collective efforts that create jobs, improve agriculture, expand opportunities and bring lasting development to the district.
The lawmaker invoked what he described as Nimba’s tradition of rallying behind a single leadership direction, using the image of “one arrowhead” to emphasize the need for a shared political vision and coordinated development efforts.
He also appealed for support for the national government, citing ongoing development efforts and the district’s representation in national leadership as reasons for residents to work together.
Reconciliation After Elections
Representative Kwagrue further addressed divisions that emerged following recent elections, urging former candidates and their supporters to put aside political differences and cooperate for the good of the community.
He thanked residents who continued to work with the district leadership despite having supported competing candidates, saying that service to the people should always take priority over political rivalry.
The lawmaker said he remains committed to reconciliation and encouraged community members to support initiatives that can improve livelihoods, particularly for women and young people.
He reiterated that the Buu-Yao Concerned Women Agriculture initiative should be seen as a community project, not a political project, and called on all residents to contribute to its success.
Women’s Agriculture in Nimba
The initiative comes at a time when women-led agricultural groups across Nimba County are increasingly seeking support to expand production and processing.
Similar cooperatives in the county have used external support to acquire land, storage facilities, equipment and transportation, helping them move from small-scale farming into larger commercial production.
District #5, located in eastern Nimba County and bordering Côte d’Ivoire, has agriculture and cross-border trade as important parts of its local economy.
Improved rural roads and market access have also been identified as key factors in helping farmers move goods and increase incomes.
For the women of Buu-Yao, the harvest marks both an achievement and the beginning of a broader effort to build a more self-reliant agricultural enterprise.
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