PHOTO: VP Jewel Howard-Taylor speaking at the just-ended forum
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
A one-day forum on Liberia Agriculture Mechanization Trade has ended, with the setting up of a Liberia Agriculture Mechanization Committee to spear-head activities on improving the agricultural sector from subsistence farming to industrial production scales for food sufficiency and exportat to neighboring countries.
The committee is headed by Madam Regina Sokan Teah, Registrar General of the Cooperative Development Agency and co-chaired by Mohamed Kamara, Managing Director of the Agriculture and Infrastructural Investment Company.
Speaking at the start of the forum, Liberia’s Vice President, Jewel Howard-Taylor admonished Liberians in the agricultural sector to begin thinking out of the box by engaging with partners who will help them use the latest machines and equipment in maximize production for self-sufficiency and export to neighboring countries.
The day-long forum was organized by the Praxis Africa Liberia in collaboration with the Agriculture and Infrastructural Investment Company,
Some participants at the forum
According to VP Taylor, agriculturists in the West African sub region have begun mechanizing their farms; thus, making them to produce more food for their population and exporting some in neighboring countries.
She assured the discussants that government will do all it can in making the decisions reached at the end of the forum because the government wants farmers produce food for commercial and exportation to neighboring countries.
The Liberian Vice President made it clear that some investors who are interested in investing in the agricultural sector and are expected in the country next month.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Praxis Africa Liberia, disclosed that the Liberia Agriculture Mechanization Committee will work out the modalities on the way forward on the decisions reached.
According to him, the founder of the Praxis Africa based in the United States and an owner of a drone company are expected next week in order to follow up on the decisions reached in Liberia
Thomas Wuo
He explained Praxis Africa is working well in Ghana and Togo with farmers using the latest machines and equipment for agriculture.
Also speaking, the General Manager of the Agriculture and Infrastructural Investment Company, Mohamed Kamara, expressed optimism in the forum and cautioned farmers to take advantage of the program.
Mr. Kamara, who is owner of the largest rice farm in Liberia, said the time has come for farmers move from subsistence to mechanized farming in order to be self-sufficient in food production and for exportation.
The forum brought together farmers, bankers, nongovernmental organizations in the agricultural sector, bankers officials of the Cooperative Development Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture, the World Bank, among others.