PHOTO: LACRA official Musa Konneh
By Massa Kanneh,masskanneh@yahoo.com
Mr Abu Balloh is not only a Medical practitioner but a man who also engages in Farming activities.
Farming is important for him for it would provide for his needs and wouldn’t wait for help from anyone, before taking care of his Family’s needs.
It takes15-20 minutes ride on Motorcycle to get to one of the many Cocoa and Coffee Farms around Barkedu, which is owned by Mr. Balloh.
Barkedu is one of the Biggest Towns in a Predominantly Mandingo District of Lofa, Quadu Gboni, in Lofa County.
The District is blessed with fertile soil that could grow almost all Cash crops.
Few of the Corps include Cocoa and Coffee.
Mr. Balloh is a Cocoa and Coffee Farmer who lives in Barkedu Lofa..
Why Cocoa Farming
Mr. Balloh observes that Cocoa and Coffee are some of the major crops that would grow well in the soil in this area and are also Crops that will continue to benefit him and his Children.
Abu Balloh, a Liberian cocoa farmer
“To be specific, Cocoa,Coffee and Palms grow here we’ll,” he said.
Challenges
Despite the enthusiasm to produce more Cocoa and Coffee for his Family, but he and other Farmers are faced with major Problems.
He is willing to enlarge his Plantations of Cocoa and Coffees but finds it difficult to do so due to the unavailability of Seedlings.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with www.newspublictrust.com, Mr. Balloh said their are many persons who are willing to engage in Cocoa farming in Lofa, but the lack of seedlings is a major impediment.
According to him, he and some other farmers smuggled seedlings from neighboring Countries due to the unavailability.
“What I’m about to say now, could lead me into problems but I have to say it, I smuggled Cocoa and Coffee from Guinea” If I’m caught, I could be a problem for me,” Mr. Balloh said
“We don’t have seedlings here, that is our major problem“ he continues.
“We need them (Seedings), and we don’t have them, so we have to smuggle from outside,“ said Balloh and spoke about a high Hybrid Cocoa he saw in neighboring Guinea, which he had to buy some to bring to Liberia for Planting.
“This Cocoa bears yearly, from December to December,“ as he pointed to one of the Many Trees.
On one of his visits to Guinea, he said there were Cocoas on nursery that were ready for planting.
According to him, he bought few Trees to be imported to Liberia on his Motorcycle.
Upon his arrival at the Guinea Liberia Border, the Security Officers demanded he allegedly Bribe them to be allowed to Transport the trees.
“I took the Seedlings on my Bike, they told me the Crops were only meant for Guinean Farmers, so I should give small thing (Money), and I give it,” lamented Mr. Balloh.
He is seeking the Help of Central Government to help Build Cocoa Nurseries in the County to help provide Seedlings for Farmers.
“We see lots of Nurseries in Guinea, they sell them to their Customers. If the government can do same Nurseries here, we can get the Seedlings and reimburse them” he said.
What are LACRA authorities saying?
Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) is responsible to checkmate and provide Seedlings some Major Cash Crops in Liberia.
Mr. Musa Konneh is the Deputy Director for Operations and he has confirmed the unavailability of Seedlings for Farmers.
Said the Deputy Director for Operations: “I can safely confirm that we have no seedlings in Liberia. We are very young, we are one-year-old. But I can say to you in few months’ time our farmers with have access to Seedlings. Not just any seed but high hybrid seeds,” the Deputy Director of LACRA said.
Despite LACRA being at its tender age, it stills has the Vision to have Cocoa Nurseries in Some of the Counties, including Grand Bassa, Nimba, Bong if possible Lofa and Cape Mount Counties.
Having a Nursery in Lofa could be a bit sticky for there have been some Land disputes between Community dwellers and Government, which is yet to be resolved.
“There are plans to create nursery In three Countries Nimba, Bassa and Nimba. We also have plan to have one in Lofa, but for Lofa, it is complicated yet
In the next two weeks, if things can be sort out, Lofa with have one” Konneh said
According to him, by June this Year, most Nurseries shall have been completed and distribution of Seedlings will commerce.
“In the soonest possible time our farmers will have seeds, we are talking high bred unit seeds with be given. By June of this Years, and Farmers will have seeds,” he said.
Nurseries in the Counties, could take six months..Lofa is another issues, the LPMC land has some issues that need to be settled.
He urged Liberians to take Cocoa Farming seriously, at the same time warning them not to plant any kind of Cocoa.
“Not every Cocoa can produce, there are some Farmers who import their own Seedings and we want to discourage that.”
“Importing any kind of Cocoa could lead to to a slow pace in said Farmers productivity, sometimes the Seeds might not produce or could take several Years to be ready,” he said.
“We want to give you a seed that will give two to Three Tons per hectare, because 1,111 seedlings could produce like a thousand threes”. Konneh added
How Does Government benefits?
According to Konneh, LACRA is only responsible to provide Training with the help of Partners and provide free seedlings to Cocoa Farmers for planting.
After Cultivation, the produces are sold to the Exporters and from there Government will make gains through Export Taxes.
“The Government benefits when the Buyers who export the Cocoa harvested will have to pay export tax, we as a government will not take Money from the Cocoa producers, we get Money from the Export tax”
Mr. Konneh also told www.newspublictrust.com that even though LACRA is still young, and with a little budgetary support, but they are striving to provide the best and to encourage Cocoa Farmers to return to their Farms.
“We don’t have the necessary support only the allotment Government provides. The support is not coming, which I think is due to budgetary problems.
Once the quality of the Cocoas are produced, we will have more exporters.”.
He said the encouragement of Farmers to return to their Farms have increased productivity from 1500, by next Year productivity could be 10,000. Hectares.
The LACRA official disclosed that Grand Cape Mount is the single largest Producer of Cocoa in the Country as of now.
“I’m not discouraging rice production and other crops, but we need to focus on Cocoa production more because of the value,”. Mr. Konneh said.
Process of getting Seedlings
LACRA says it is in talks with both Ghana and Ivory Coast where it planned on getting Seedlings from.
However, the process is that the Ministry of Agriculture in Liberia will have to write the Ministry of Agriculture in either Countries requesting for Seedlings.
Once the channel is completed, the Seedlings will be given through the Ministry and before us.
“We planned on having our seeds from Ivory Coast or Ghana. It is very diplomatic process involved.”
The operational budget for LACRA is over Two Hundred Thousands, an amount Konneh believes the amount is a drop in an Ocean with over Seventy Employees.
However, he is optimistic that when the budgetary constraints faced by government is resolved and with the help of Donors and Partners, thing will be alright for Cocoa Producers in Liberia.
“My annual budget is Two Hundred Ninety Three Thousands Three Hundred United States Dollars, (&29300), with over 75 employees, is a drop in the Ocean”.
“Besides Solidaridad, which has helped with distribution of Seedlings in Three counties, we have no other donors or supporters and we are looking forward to all necessary support” he noted
EU Sponsored Liberia Cocoa Sector Improvement implemented by Solidaridad Network West Africa.
The overall objective of the project is to create a vibrant, Competitive and Profitable Cocoa Economy driven by Farmer groups and private Cocoa supply chain Companies, with a robust National regulation and Institutional framework.
According to research and information on European Union webpage, the project established Two Nurseries in Kowah Bong County and Karween, Nimba County
About 600,000 Cocoa Seedlings were brought to Liberia from Ghana, 300,000 Seedlings were placed at each Nursery in the above mentioned Counties, nursed for Six Months and distributed to selected Farmers.
The Project claimed to have trained 874 Farmers and they received 150-800 Seedlings depending on the size of their individual farmland.
The project brought together 43 facilitators for training and they were sent back to their various Communities to train other Farmers in Bong, Nimba and Lofa. But Lofa still yearn for Seedlings.
Meanwhile, 33 Field Schools have been established in the various Communities.
The Total cost of the Contract is € 5 009 377.06, the Contract amounted to €4 009, 377.06 and the project runs from 2017 to 2021.