-Lofa United Women in action
By Tokpa tarnue-tarnue82@gmail.com
Voinjama, Liberia- The Lofa United Women for Sustainable Development has begun harvesting rice planted by their organization in Voinjama City, Lofa County as means of fostering unity and improving the food security situation.
Rice is Liberia’s staple food and the bulk of the commodity consumed in this country are imported from Asian nations and other parts of the world in the volume of over US$200 million annually.
The group, comprising over one hundred members from various districts, was established back in 2014 to promote unity through agricultural programs.
Speaking to this Reporter on their farm in the suburb of the provincial capital, Voinjama, the Chairperson of the group, Sonnie Jallah disclosed that their initiative is to ensure that Lofa regains her prewar status as the ‘bread basket of Liberia’.
According to Madam Jallah, the brain behind the establishment of this organization is former Lofa County Assistant Superintendent for Development, Madam Younger Sherman.
She said, since its founding in 2014, the group has undertaken several farming projects in the county, which has enabled them to contribute greatly to the growth of their individual families.
Madam Jallah also praised two of their kinsmen Mr. John Selma and Mr. Momo Cyrus for supporting the project, and called on other well-meaning Lofans and lawmakers of the county to give them more support so that they can actualize their dreams.
“If only we are fully supported, we will limit the importation of rice into Lofa by growing more food that could feed our county and country at large,” the organization’s Chair said.
She encouraged other Lofans to till the county’s rich soil as a means of sustaining their families and avoid continuously being liability to others.
During the harvest, the women were seen in a jubilant mood, describing the soil as a bank and underscored the need to invest in it as a country so that Liberia can become self-sufficient in food production.
The Chairperson of the Lofa United Women for Sustainable Development, Madam Sonnie Jallah disclosed that “Proceeds from the harvest will be kept for the next farming season and the current site will still be used to cultivate groundnuts and eddoes among others.”
Studies show that women are shaping the rural economy in developing countries- contributing as farmers, laborers, and entrepreneurs.
Recent study by the World Farmers Organization (WFO) reveals that the majority of the world’s farmers are women assuming a wide variety of roles. But it points out ironically that they face face greater difficulties and constraints than their male counterparts vis-a-vis land ownership, access to credit, markets, technology, seeds, water, information and education and other services.
These disparities must be corrected as it is estimated that women produce up to 80 percent of the world’s food.
The World Farmers Organization aims to promote the organization and strengthening of women producer organizations and ensure that women have voice within mixed organizations.