PHOTO: Dr. Samuel Monwell, President, GBCC

The Grand Bassa Community College, transitioning to a university, has identified agriculture as sustainable supplement to government’s support in the future.

The President of the College, Dr. Samuel K. Monwell, through frontline efforts from the Vice President for Institutional Development, Mr. Josiah Gayman engaged and succeeded with the locals of # 2 District, Grand Bassa County to secure at least 200 acres of farm land for the agricultural project.

With the government’s policy of non-tuition fees at public colleges, it appears innovation, thinking outside of the box, is the alternative to keep the doors of public colleges opened and expanded.

GBCC President, Dr. Samuel K. Monwell, with the locals in #2 District, Grand Bassa County

Vice President Gayman said, the college has concluded with the elders, youth and women of #2 District for a cost-free ownership of the land which is currently be cleared. He said, if soil testing by agricultural technicians approves palm and rubber plantation, the college would be glad to take on the two crops.

Gayman revealed that the Liberia Agriculture Company (LAC) is expected to test the soil for healthy growth of rubber soon.  LAC may collaborate with the college for successful rubber plantation on the land. The college is also talking with  Equatorial Palm Oil, a company in Grand Bassa County, to do the feasibility study on the proposal for palm plantation., Gayman narrated.

If all goes well, the farming project may add extra income for the college in 5-10 years. Grand Bassa Community College currently survives on government subsidy which goes heavily into salaries, county social development and small entry fees from the students used for operations and mini-development activities including maintenance of facilities, according to the administration.

In other news, the college has disclosed establishing a campus FM radio station to serve as the voice of education in the county.

Also, there are plans, according to the Administration, to construct residential housing units on the school’s campus to encourage faculty and student residency in the domain of the college. There’s no specific so far released on the housing plan, even though the damaged bridge connecting the college to Buchanan undermines serious hardware construction on the campus for now.