By Tokpa Tarnue- tarnue82@gmail.com
VOINJAMA, Liberia- The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) and the Selma Agriculture Development Corporation (SADC) havesigned an agriculture grant agreement in the tune of two hundred forty five thousands one hundred ninety one United States Dollars ($ 245,191.00 USD).
USADF is an independent U.S. Government agency established by Congress to support African-owned enterprises which improve lives in poor and vulnerable communities in Africa.
Speaking at the signing ceremony on Tuesday, April 24, 2019 in Voinjama, USADF’s country director Peter Wilson said that the purpose of the gran is to increase the income of SADC and that of the small holders rice producing farmers.
The grant, which covers the period from April 10, 2019 to June 30, 2022, will also help in building the farmers’ potential in increasing rice production in Lofa County through the SADC.
As part of the implementation of the project, Mr. Wilson said the Selma Agriculture Development Corporation is expected to reach out to thousands of farmers in the county in gaining potentials and equipping these farmers, in order to enable them produce sufficient and improved rice in the county.
Speaking earlier, the founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. John Selma praised the government and people of the United States through the Liberian Government for the confidence and trust reposed in him for the implementation of such a huge task.
He indicated that SADC, which was established in 2012, has been involved with the purchasing of rice from farmers in Lofa and providing capacity development training for farmers in micro businesses. The group has also been working with local and international partners in the business of improving rice production.
CEO Selma called on other Lofans and Liberians at large to see the soil as a bank for investment, if we as a country must feed ourselves.
According to him, Liberians need to at this stage see farming as a business and not just to consume as was done in the past.
He said thou there have been several challenges along the way, but his focus and determination for agriculture continued to increase on a daily basic.
Mr. Selma also recounted previous support from the Japanes government to the improvement of his cooperative and promised to work with the farmers as stipulated within the grant agreement.
United States African Development Foundation’s foreign assistance in Africa is an investment in local economic
development for peace and security today and prosperous U.S. trading partners
tomorrow.
USADF
invests directly in community enterprises, providing seed capital and local
technical support to early stage agriculture, off-grid energy and
youth-led
enterprises in Africa.
The signing exercise
took place in the compound of the Selma Africa Development Corporation (SADC)
in Voinjama City Lofa County.