PHOTO: Farmers Selling displaying their produce at the fair
By Teahwleh Clarke Geeplay
GREENVILLE, Liberia – German Aid Corporation (WHH) in partnership with the local agriculture office in the southern Sinoe County has for the first time ended a two-day intensive training and farmers’ fair for rural farmers in Sinoe County.
Agriculture fair or exhibition is intended to promote agriculture by inclusion and balanced variety of exhibits of livestock and agricultural product, as well as related manufactured products.
Hosted in Greenville city, the WHH farmers’ fair took place at the J. Dominic Beng city hall with over three hundreds stakeholders from diverse background in attendance
The program brought together over twenty-four farmers group from the Germany agriculture selected communities across the county. The program began with outdoor activities where the exhibition of locally produced agriculture products was supervised by the county agriculture coordinator, along with WHH partners. It later ended with an indoor program where presentations were done by selected facilitators on a number of topics.
Speaking in an interview at the program in Greenville, Justin Loga who is the current WHH agriculture coordinator assigned in Sinoe said that the program was supported by the EU LAP partners, an UE funded program that is working in twenty-four (24) communities in this county.
It targets smallholder farmers, nutrition, community saving loan association, adding that the program help to prepare farmers especially in rural Liberia and beneficiary for all seasons.
Madam Victoria Sango, Local Farmer from Saywon Town In Tarjuowon District
“This program is very important, it is an EU funded program that help local farmers in and effort to enhance food security as agriculture is matter in a given and growing country. For Sinoe County we are currently working in twenty four communities across Sinoe County,” he explained.
The WHH agriculture coordinator maintained that under the program or project, it helps in promoting additional value and increase farmers knowledge, as part of new method as well food security for the benefit of the society as a whole.
Justin Loga, WHH Agriculture Coordinator
“Let you been following here today, the county agriculture coordinator madam Ophelia Cooper and some of our staffs including county official of Sinoe were among others that carryout the exhibition, and the process brought together farmers from different communities where our project is been implemented. The farmers have brought all types of locally produced commodities like cassava, plantain, palm apple, beans and monrenga, among other things,” Justin narrated.
The dialogue session, also cover several topics like media role in strengthen and promoting agriculture productivity, Access to Finance and Agriculture value chain, etc. Many local farmers and key state actors were in attendance.
Making special remarks at the opening of the program, the proxy for Sinoe County Superintendent, Darwin Berry, who is also the county service center coordinator, described agriculture as a gate way to food security in every country, encouraged local farmers to redouble their efforts in growing more food in order to feed the nation.
“Growing more food and feeding the nation is very important, even people who are in government need to focus and give the agriculture sector much attention as we strives in making our beloved country Liberia a better place,” Mr. Berry asserted.
The local official, who spoke on behalf Sinoe County Superintendent Lee Nagbe Chea, also used the occasion in extending special thanks and appreciation to the German aid corporation and partners for their constant support in helping to boost the country’s agriculture sector, especially in the southeastern region.
The WHH-organized program was held in partnership with ZOA Liberia, Concern Worldwide. It brought together a number of farming groups, including women and men, county officials, agriculture stakeholders, civil society organizations and some local and national NGOs.
Some farmers and other participants expressed delight and assure that the knowledge gained during the two-day program will be utilized, as they continue to engage the soil in order to grow more food to feed the country.
Madam Victory Sango, a farmer from Saywon town, one of the WHH agriculture project community, told reporters that the since its launch, the project in her community has been and will continue to make impact, especially when it comes to livelihood development.
“For me, I want to say a big thank you to WHH and her partners for thinking about us and bringing this project, it really helping us and now I can no longer wait for man before I get money. I am building my own house and even sending my two children to college from my own agriculture farm as a result of WHH support,” the local female farmer explained.
According to the WHH agriculture boss, a similar program is expected to be held in Grand Kru and Rivercess counties, as the project is focusing on promoting agriculture activities in the southeast..
In a related development as well in an effort to improving food productivity in Liberia especial Fish town River Gee County, the project new look in partnership with Welthunderhilfe (WHH) to implement the solid waste management project as an initiative of the government of Germany through BMZ with two cities in the southeast, namely Zwedru and fish town in Grand Gedeh and River Gee, respectively.
Few of the items Donated at the ceremony in Fish Town
During the official turning over of materials to over 20 local backyard gardeners covered in Fish Town, the capital of River Gee County, Mr. Newton Flomo said the project is aimed at providing backyard gardeners with small skills and technical training in composting method to increase their gardens productivity.
She said this would also help in contributing to food and nutrition security as well potentially reduce the quality of waste to be disposed at the land fall in those selected counties in the southeastern region.
Mr. Flomo urged the backyard gardeners to use materials received for their intended purposes, adding that it will help them sustained they and their family greatly.
“We are hoping and praying that you use the materials for it intended purposes, it will help you a lot, as more will be done when our expectation is met from the first one received here today,” he narrated.
During the official turning over of materials to over 20 local backyard gardeners covered in Fish Town, the capital of River Gee County, Mr. Newton Flomo said the project is aimed at providing backyard gardeners with small skills and technical training in composting method to increase their gardens productivity.
She said this would also help in contributing to food and nutrition security as well potentially reduce the quality of waste to be disposed at the land fall in those selected counties in the southeastern region.
Mr. Flomo urged the backyard gardeners to use materials received for their intended purposes, adding that it will help them sustained they and their family greatly.
“We are hoping and praying that you use the materials for it intended purposes, it will help you a lot, as more will be done when our expectation is met from the first one received here today,” he narrated.
Receiving the materials on behalf of the beneficiaries at the occasion, Madam Sarah Botah highly appreciated the family of Project New Out Look for their farsightedness to enable farmers to produce their own food.
Madam Sarah Botah, a farmer from River Gee’s capital, Fish Town
“Rest and sure, we will used the materials for it intended purpose. Again we are forever grateful” She explained.