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Agriculture Min. Blamed For CARI Backwardness, But Official Rejects Claim

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PHOTO: Minister, Jeanine Cooper

By Emmanuel Mafelah,

GBARNGA, Liberia- Amidst the prolonged administrative row at the Central Agriculture Research Institute (CARI) in Suakoko, Bong County, Liberia Agriculture Minister, Jeanine Cooper has been partly blamed for the unresolved confusion, but the Agriculture Ministry has dismissed such a claim.

CARI is an autonomous agency which was established for the sole purpose of contributing to productivity through adaptive research and promotion of knowledge and the attainment of food security, job creation and poverty alleviation.

According to one report, since Minister Cooper was appointed by President George M. Weah at the Agriculture Ministry, she has always been interfering with the day- to -day running of CARI.

But when contacted, Bong County Agriculture Coordinator Mr. Kollie Nah described the claim as laughable and said it has no ayota of truth.

Mr. Nah said CARI remains the heartbeat of Minister Cooper and the government of Liberia. He then called on those carrying such lies to desist and joins the Ministry move CARI and the Agriculture sectors forward

On Wednesday July 29, 2020 there was a day-long meeting at CARI convened by the Chairman on the Committee of Agriculture at the Lower House, Representative Prince O. K. Tokpah and some stakeholders of the County including CARI Officer In Charge, Paulette Findley,

Minister Cooper said the Agriculture Research Institute under the regime of Madam Findley has lost its integrity and trust.

She added, “I am very disappointed in Madam Findley and the entire leaderships here at CARI, and i strongly believes that President Weah need to act now. When you woke up in the morning you hear series of media reports burning CARI as a corruption center, this must stop.”

But contrary to the Minster’s assertion, a staff of CARI who begged for anonymity, said the Liberia Agriculture is blameworthiness for the current disunity at the entity.  

The insider at CARI told journalists that Minister Cooper is overly protecting some individuals.

Currently, there’s a report that some unscrupulous  individual from the office of Min. Cooper are on the compound of the center soliciting signature of workers to be presented to President Weah by the MoA boss in order to dismiss  madam Findley from CARI.

Our investigations further revealed that Minister Cooper is currently using two Tractors and some other materials belonging to CARI on her farm in Margibi County.

Africa Rice is receiving 3.5 million from the European Union to work in collaboration with the Central Agriculture Research Institute to do swamp rice producing in the Country.

Meanwhile, the Communication Director of the Central Agriculture Research Institute, Papa Morris has reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to improving the Agriculture sector of the Country through a research.

Mr. Morris also said that under the administration of the Acting Director General of the only Agriculture research entity in Liberia, has immensely improved.

The Central Agriculture Research Institute Communications Director is at the same time calling on Bongese to rally their support to the current leadership at CARI for the overall improvements of the entity in the Country.

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