By Emmanuel Mafelah, mafelahemmanuel29@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- In an effort to elevate agricultural productivity to boost livelihood and the Liberian economy, Liberia’s new Agriculture , Jeanine Cooper says collaborative and coordinated partnership between the Government of Liberia and partners remains a major priority for the Ministry in transforming the Central Agriculture Research Institute (CARI).
CARI, which is located in the central Liberian town of Suakoko in Bong County, about 180 km (111.8 miles) north of the Liberian capital, Monrovia, was a reliable and top of the line research center prior to the civil war, which started in 1989 and ended in 2003.
But in recent times, this once dynamic research has been hit by acrimony within the ranks of its management, with claims and counter claims of corruption and mismanagement. In the wake of that, its former Director, Dr. M. Jones was dismissed by President Goerge Weah.
Just over the weekend, it was reported that at the request of the Administration of the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), the Liberia National Police Bong County Detachment has launched a manhunt for the financial Comptroller of the institution for allegedly escaping with thousands of United States Dollars from a USAID-funded project and other projects.
Mr. Amara Enson Joe, the Comptroller of CARI, is alleged to have withdrawn the money from the institution’s account and is currently on the run. So far, he has not given any interview to Journalists or broken his silence.
Papa Morris, head of Communications at CARI writes: “The Administration of the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) is in search of its comptroller Mr. Enson Joe Amara for escaping with thousands of United States Dollars from a USAID funded project and other projects at the institution.”
During an official visit to the Agriculture Research Center recently, Minister Cooper added: “As we all know that before the war, CARI was a centre operated by a team of Liberian agro-scientists and professionals who provided useful and scientific information to Liberian farmers especially on the planting and cultivation of our crops.”
So by making the Center functional and helpful to our Liberian farmers is a focus for us at the Ministry of Agriculture.
Remembered that the planting season is almost here and CARI is the only source our farmers have to go to for information so we’re to do more.
“l believe that there’s an infrastructure already in place and also a blue print for CARI’s operation and development. We will see which aspects of CARI’s intended functionalities are present, but not operational and which aspects are operational, but not operating.”
The Liberia Agriculture Minister, who has vast experience in this sector, served as Managing Director of FABRAR-Liberia Enterprise Limited, an organization which specializes in processing and marketing local agricultural and food products for domestic consumption and export.
She was accompanied on her tour of CARI by the Mano River Union’s office in Liberia Resident Coordinator, Chris Jallah, Africa Rice Liberia Country Representative, Inoussa Akintayo, CARI Officer In Charge, Paulette Findley, and amongst others.
Minister Cooper also stated that Liberia is a Country in the world that has a rich and fertile soil free of chemicals and fertilizers and possess the quality to produce food with natural nutrients than any other Country in the Sub-Region.
Agricultural products from Liberia are said to have superior quality tastes as compare to other countries, where Liberia most often import rice and other products.
According to Madam Cooper, Liberia is producing healthy organic food considered as the best for the human body and as such Liberian farmers need to be supported.
She also believed that consuming local food will promote healthy living and improve the agriculture sector.
For her part, the Officer In Charge of CARI extended Commendations to Minister Cooper and team for the visit and vowed to serve with institute with integrity and inhumanity.