PHOTO: Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) in Suakoko, Bong County
By Emmanuel Mafelah, mafelahemmanuel29@gmail.com
The Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) located in Suakoko, Bong County has begun facilitating series of training programs on best farming practices using the farmer field school (FFS) model for farmer cooperatives and other cassava farmers in the 5 counties of southeast Liberia.
CARI is situated 80 km from Monrovia
This only Liberian research institution for agriculture is also setting up and utilizing demonstration farms to transfer knowledge on best practices (including intensification, and also integrated soil fertility management) and providing improved inputs such as stem cuttings from the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI).
A press release from the agricultural research institute said the initiative is being executed in partnership with CERATH Development Organization (CDOL) Liberia, a non-profit organization that is focused on catalyzing development in West Africa. CDO has five (5) main intervention areas.
These include Agriculture, Fisheries, Renewable Energy, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), and Inclusive Finance. CDO is currently operational in Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
The Cassava Transformation Project (CAST RAP) is the Liberia national component of the European Union (El-J)-funded West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP).
WACOMP aims to support selected value chains at national and regional levels to promote structural transformation and better access to regional and international markets, while taking into account social and environmental concerns.
The project is being implemented in the South-East of Liberia specifically in Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Maryland, Grand Kru and Sinoe counties.
Dr. Victor Sumo is the Director General of the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI). He reaffirmed the administration commitment to the people of the southeast more and better opportunities.
He said that CARI, being the only agricultural research institute in the country, the institution present in the southeast will further enhance farmers’ productivity.
Said Dr. Sumo: “Our farmers in this part of the country will be trained to handle or understand and overcome some of the challenges they faced as farmers. Their yield will even increase.”