As Women Farmers In Bong County Lead Agricultural Efforts, Amidst Challenges
PHOTO: Gomah Yarkpawolo- Sammy Town
Christine Sajery
FeJAL Newsroom Leader
Women Farmers in Sammy, Liberia’s central Bong County are breaking barriers and competing with their male counterparts in agriculture. Gomah Yarkpawolo, a resident and farmer, shared her experiences with female reporters.
She explained the challenges women farmers face and highlighted their leadership in the community, where agriculture is a major source of income for both men and women. Rice farming is particularly successful due to the favorable soil conditions, with crops growing quickly and yielding good harvests.
Gomah outlined significant challenges, especially for single mothers, such as obtaining farming materials and assistance in planting and maintaining crops until harvest. The poor condition of farm-to-market roads is a major issue, making it difficult for buyers to access the community.
“We sometimes have to walk long distances with loads on our heads or pay a lot to bikers just to bring goods to nearby towns or Gbarnga. By the time we finish selling, there’s little left because we have to eat and pay school fees,” said Madam Yarkpawolo.
She condemned the exploitation of women farmers by some men and highlighted the formation of a network of female farmers that includes supportive men. This network aims to achieve their agricultural goals without the women needing to offer favors in return.
Despite the lack of external support, these women have built a cooperative system to work together and produce more products for sale.
Madam Yarkpawolo sees women’s involvement in agriculture as key to community development and self-sustainability. She has encouraged other women to join farming, emphasizing its necessity for survival in their community. She called on the Agriculture Ministry and other supportive organizations to provide tools, machines, and seeds to improve agriculture in Sammy.
Gomah expressed optimism that, with the needed support, women farmers in Sammy could produce more and potentially export their products to other counties in the coming years. She emphasized the long history of agricultural involvement in Sammy but lamented the lack of external support, particularly for women.
Sam Moore, a member of the network, joined to help women farmers understand that with men’s support, their dreams can become reality.
He praised the women’s hard work and patience but noted that many still only produce enough to eat. Moore identified bad roads as a major setback, often leading to spoiled produce and discouraged farmers. He advocated for improved infrastructure to ensure products could be sold in Gbanga and neighboring areas.
Moore urged the network to expand to surrounding villages to include more women farmers and called on the government to invest more in agriculture and support women farmers. He stressed that increased female participation in farming would prevent food shortages and preserve the environment.
Yamah Flomo of Kpolokpalai
Yamah Flomo of Kpolokpalai also shared her story. As a widow and farmer, she has relied on agriculture to support her family despite numerous challenges, including lack of support, education, and poor road conditions. Flomo recounted instances where her produce spoiled due to the bad roads, leading her to focus on subsistence farming. Despite her age, she continues to farm to meet her family’s needs.
Residents of Kpolokpala highlighted how neighboring communities have improved through agriculture, while their situation remains stagnant due to similar challenges. They called on the Ministry of Agriculture and donors for support to enhance their agricultural practices and improve their community.
The women farmers of Kpolokpala appreciate the progress made by their counterparts in Sammy and are eager to collaborate to achieve greater success in agriculture. They believe that networking with other communities is essential to overcoming their challenges and revitalizing interest in farming among women.