PHOTO: FAO Rep. Madam Mariatou Njie
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The Country Representative of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has ended a one-day field visit to UAE funded projects in Gbarpolu County in northwestern Liberia.
The project, which is entitled: “Promoting Increased Resilience and Sustainable Income Generation, Food Security and Nutrition for Rural Women,” is funded by the United Arab Emirates and is being implemented by the FAO in partnership the Ministries of Agriculture and Internal Affairs.
The tour of the projects was conducted on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
Speaking during the field visit with the Tarpoinah Successful Women Cooperative Society, Gbarma District, Gbarpolu County, Madam Mariatou Njie, said one the problems that the FAO has observed was the lack of mechanization, because it was not adequate.
She added that if the farmers want expand their production and make it sustainable, the FAO has to continue to provide agro- machinery purposely to facilitate their farming work.
“We are also trying to see how we can link you up with market,” Madam Njie said; adding: “we at FAO believe that the foundation of your success is through cooperative and I am happy you have already been certificated.”
She expressed optimism that the Takpoimah Successful Women Cooperative Society will make progress in their endeavor and encouraged the women to enlarge the farms so as to meet commercial and self-sufficient scales.
In remarks, the Deputy Agriculture Minister, George Forpoh, said the project came to fruition through the efforts of President George Weah when visited the United Arab Emirate during which he requested His Highness for assistance to assist the Liberian women.
According to him, the FAO is only be used as the vehicle through the fund is being transferred.
He expressed the hope that the Liberian government will do more in order for more assistance for the benefit of the Liberian people.
Dr. Forpoh appealed to the women to encouraged the young people to form part of the project so as to train them on the knowledge they acquired from the FAO and the Agriculture Ministry
Speaking earlier, the national agronomist at the FAO, Ambrose Forpoh, disclosed that the project is being implemented in 24 farming groups in Gbarpolu, Bong, Lofa, Montserrado and Nimba Counties.
According to him, the projects have 1,966 beneficiaries in value chain vegetable, low rice poultry and inland fish-farming value 2.5 million United States Dollars.
Madam Njie also visited Yankaya Women Cooperative Society, where the beneficiaries harvested large quantity of fish from their integrated fish pond.
The field trip also took the TAO Country Representative to the Gbarma poultry and farming sties at Gbarma in Gbarpolu County.
Accompanying the FAO Country Representative on the field trip were Madam Leelia Andrews, Deputy Agriculture Minister, Madam Regina Sokan-Teah, Register General of the Cooperative Development Agency, Ma Kebeh Monger, National President of the Liberia National Rural Women, Mohamed A. M Kamara, Assistant Director Communion Farming , the Ministry of Internal Affairs among others.
The FAO Country Representative and delegation has already embarked on the second leg of the field trip to Bong and Nimba Counties.