Liberia: 7,000 Farmers Set to Receive Farming Tools
The distribution of these items was intended to enhance the capacities of the farmers for more production.
More than 7,000 farmers in five counties are set to receive some assorted farming tools from a local-based organization known as ‘Agriculture & You’.
Mr. Sylvester Kpai, Executive Director of Agriculture & You, told the Daily Observer his organization focuses on three value chains, namely vegetable, rice and aquaculture.
He explained that Agriculture & You, with support from “Jenneh’s Farm”, a partner based in the United States of America, was able to procure some assorted farming implements from China, worth over US$100,000.
Mr. Kpai added that about 7280 farmers in five counties will be receiving these materials; with 2,800 of the farmers in Bomi, 1,700 in Bong, 300 in Montserrado, 1,200 in Lofa and 1,280 in Nimba.
Mr. Kpai added those involved in rice farming will be receiving a motorized power tiller, motorized harvester and treachery, rain boots, cutlasses and hoes. Those who are engaged in fish ponds, he continued, will receive pipe shovels to enable them to get their irrigation done; while those in vegetable farming will be given vegetable seedlings.
“We have already begun the distribution in Nimba on October 31, 2023 and it is going to continue for two days each in Nimba, Bong, Lofa and 1 day in Montserrado,” he said.
“Bomi will be our last target with another two days, because we have groups in 40 communities,” he said.
This year the Ministry of Agriculture, through several local NGOs, distributed huge quantities of farm implements to farming groups involved in various categories of farming, including rice, vegetables, cash crops and tree crops.
The distribution of these items was intended to enhance the capacities of the farmers for more production.
However, Mr. Sylvester Kpai urged the farmers to take advantage of the farm implements and use them wisely for their own livelihoods.
“What we can say to the farmers is to take advantage of what you have. We will be coming with technical support and make sure that farmers take farming as a business,” he concluded.