PHOTO: Warehouse containing rice cutter handed over to Cooperative in Fuamah
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has formally handed over a newly constructed warehouse to the Fuamah District Multi Purposes Cooperatives Society in Bong Mines, Bong County in central Liberia.
The warehouse, containing mechanized rice cutter, soil toiler and rice harvester, was constructed by the funds provided by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and implemented by the FAO in collaboration with the Ministries Agriculture and Internal Affairs.
Speaking during the turning over ceremony recently, FAO Country Representative, Mariatou Njie said one of the segments of this project is that the FAO has implemented the construction of a warehouse equipped with some of the best agricultural machineries.
“You have the soil tillers, rice harvesters, the power trailers and there is more to come,: she said; adding: “we are happy to hand over this facility through the Ministries of Agriculture and Internal affairs.”
Madam Njie, who was in Bong Mines as a part of her field trip of UAE funded projects, cautioned members of the Fuamah District Multi- Purpose Cooperative Society to use the warehouse to maximize the production of food at a commercial scale.
FAO Rep in Liberia Mariatou Njie during the hand over ceremony
Earlier in remarks, the National Agronomist at the FAO, Ambrose Forpoh, said the funding for the project was made possible following the visit of President George Weah to the United Arab Emirates.
According to him, the project is designed to help women and the men who are working along with them on the various farms.
Mr. Forpoh explained that the project is supporting 24 groups, 1,966 farmers in farming fish pond, poultry for industrial and commercial scales in five counties.
He said the project is being implemented in Gbarpolu, Montserrado, Bong , Lofa and Nimba Counties.
“To date, the project has delivered improved agricultural inputs including quality seeds (vegetables and rice), fertilizers, farm machines (power tillers, rice harvesters and rice threshers), and assorted agricultural hand tools to beneficiary groups”
The national agronomist at the FAO maintained that the project’s objective is to increase rural women’s incomes, and enhance households’ food and nutrition security through improved production and marketing of rice, poultry and vegetables
In remarks, the Deputy Agriculture Minister for Extension, Dr. Joseph Forpoh, who spoke on behalf of the Liberian government, thanked the Food and Agriculture Organization for the implementation of the project.
The deputy minister cautioned the beneficiaries to take advantage of the project by working harder in order to encourage the FAO to do more for them.
The field trip , which is the second by the FAO Country Representative on UAE-funded project, also took her and delegation to the Bellemue Farmers Group and the Panda Farmers Cooperative Rural Women where she inspected their project and discussed the problems they are encountering.
FAO Rep. Mariatou Njie walking though the swamp rice farm
The FAO Country Representative was graced by Dr. Joseph Forpoh, Deputy Agriculture Minister for Extension; Mohamed Kamara, Director Communion Farming , Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ma Kebbeh Monger, National President of the Liberia National Rural Women, among others.