BELLEMU, Bong – Liberia’s Agriculture Minister, Mogana S. Flomo, Jr., has pledged his government’s support to farmers’ cooperatives as a way of fulfilling his vision of making Liberia food-sufficient within four years.

Since his confirmation hearing at the Senate, Flomo has been promising the Liberian public that he would make Liberia food secure in four years. He said supporting groups like the Meni-Nina Farmers’ Cooperative in Bong would make his vision possible.

Speaking at the official launch of the cooperative’s initiative to begin packaging rice, Flomo noted that in order to push President George Weah’s Pro-Poor Agenda, Liberian farmers must be empowered by the government.

At the gathering of farmers, government officials, and international partners, he called on citizens of the district to embrace the venture of Meni-Nina and to support them to be one of the best in the county and Liberia at large.

Meni-Nina has been involved in farming for approximately two years now and were moving into packaging the products for sale.

Flomo also assured farmers that the government would begin to purchase their produce.

“One reason why you feel weak is because there is no market for your products after harvest,” he said. “Make your farms; don’t worry about the sales. We will buy them from you. Part of our strategy is to create the market, so that when you produce, it will not spoil.”

25 kg bags of parboiled rice produced by the Meni-nina Farmers Cooperative in Bellemu, Bong. Photo: Arrington Ballah

Flomo encouraged Liberians to prioritize farming as it is a good source of economic power. He said if Liberians would direct their focus to agriculture, the country would not have to import produce from countries like Guinea.

“Liberia can do better than Guinea because we have a better soil to grow those things,” he said. “The beans you buy from Guinea, plant the beans here—don’t go to Guinea again to buy beans. Plant the peanuts here.”

Featured photo by Arrington Ballah