500 Smallholder Vegetable Growers Targeted To Benefit
By Alfred Kollie, alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO has signed a US$499,000 project with the Liberian government to enhance the productivity of smallholder vegetable growers, mainly female farmers in give counties.
The agreement, which was signed in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Internal Affairs, is under the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) project titled, Strengthened Smallholders’ Capacity for Market-oriented Vegetable Production in Liberia.
It is a 24-month project that started the first of January 2024 and will end on 31st of December 2025 targeting 500 smallholder vegetable growers, mainly female farmers in Lofa, Bong, Nimba, Bomi, and Gbarpolu Counties respectively.
The project will partner with the decentralized offices of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), and the Division of Communal Farming, Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) to enhance the productivity of income through improve market access.
According to FAO Country Representative, the project seeks to achieve productive capacities of smallholder vegetable producers strengthened to increase productivity and incomes through improved market access, to build the capacities of smallholder producers strengthened towards the adoption of sustainable vegetable production and post-harvest handling practices and to make sure that smallholder producers’ access to markets and credit facilities is enhanced.
Speaking at the signing ceremony over the weekend (Saturday March 16, 2024) at the Ministry of Agriculture in Congo Town, FAO Country Representative to Liberia Madam Bintia Stephen Tchicaya said the primary crops will include both indigenous and exotic vegetables.
They include pepper, bitter balls, cabbage, tomato, watermelon, cucumber, pumpkin, potato, yam, ginger, and onion and the promotion of intercropping of legumes, groundnut and cowpea to enhance integrated soil fertility management, the FAO official explained.
According to MadamTchicaya, providing support to smallholder producers to expand production and productivity has several benefits nothing that vegetable production provides a sustainable source of income as well as promoting improved nutrition through diet diversification.
The FAO Country Representative to Liberia narrated that the project is part of FAO’s ongoing efforts to support the Government in addressing low productivity, limited nutrition awareness, and limited access to reliable markets through the strengthening of smallholder producers’ capacities, especially women through training on improved crop husbandry practices, and pest management, among others.
“The project will also provide quality seeds and assorted tools, and facilitate market linkages between smallholder producers and aggregators, and end-markets hotels, supermarkets, and restaurants.As a TCP support, we strongly believe that this technical assistance will be catalytic in attracting additional funding that will not only increase the productivity of smallholder producers but will also help in bridging the gap in extension and advisory service delivery to smallholder producers with the strengthening of capacities of district-level extension agents – both within the Division of Communal Farming of the Ministry of Internal Affairs), and the Department of Extension Ministry of Agriculture,” she said .
She however extended thanks and appreciation to the Government of Liberia’s long-standing partnership with the FAO of the United Nations representation in Liberia
“More specifically, FAO remains grateful for the cordial working relationship between the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs; in our collective efforts to ensure better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all,” the FAO Country Representative explained.
“In conclusion, FAO reaffirms its commitment to the Government of Liberia and looks forward to concerted efforts for agricultural transformation in Liberia”.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah commended the Ministry’s partner, the FAO for the project and that he was happy for such a great initiative to help boost to Agriculture sector.
Dr. Nuetah believes that the project is a pilot project that will lay the foundation for what the Ministry want to do.”
He narrated that he was happy today that FAO now has a vegetable project forcing on vegetable production for women in five counties which he said the president is very serious about women in agriculture.
The Liberian Agriculture Minster however recommended and stressed the need for beneficiaries to be well cared for by providing production site or land and water source for continue production.
He maintained that the Ministry is ever ready and committed to work and support the initiative of its partners like FAO.
In remarks, Internal Affairs Minister Francis S. Nyumalin thanked the FAO for the project nothing it is timely and important to smallholder vegetable famers in the country.
According to him, the Ministry remain committee and will reactive it cummunal farming at the Agriculture Ministry.
The Liberia Internal Affairs Minister noted that Agriculture is key on the agenda of President Joseph Boakai and as such, they will consider the project a key priority in helping to achieve the ARREST agenda of President Joseph Boakai.
” This project is a good join start and a big boost to our intensions and passion. We want to say to FAO a big thank you but we want you to do more and we look forward to more,” he noted.