Gboata, Bong County — The Founder and Executive Director of the Kwapaigeh Agriculture Cooperative, Mr. Justin Gbanyan, is appealing to the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Agriculture, to provide modern farming tools and equipment to enhance the cooperative’s agricultural activities in Gboata, Bong County Electoral District #3.
Speaking to Liberia Excellent News Network in Bong County on Wednesday, Mr. Gbanyan said the cooperative was established in November 2024 to support the ARREST Agenda of President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, Sr., in which the “A” stands for Agriculture.
“Our cooperative focuses on cultivating lowland rice and vegetables such as watermelon, cucumber, Better Boy tomatoes, maize, and onions,” Gbanyan explained.
He disclosed that Kwapaigeh currently has over 100 members, with 98 percent being middle-aged women — a sign of strong female participation in community farming.
Mr. Gbanyan identified the lack of modern agricultural tools as the cooperative’s biggest challenge, citing the need for tractors, power tillers, cutlasses, rain boots, hoes, and shovels to support daily operations.
“With proper tools and machines, we can expand our activities and increase food production — not just for Gboata, but for other communities as well,” he said.
He expressed appreciation to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for its ongoing support through the Ministry of Agriculture. According to him, IFAD has provided tools and is funding a five-hectare lowland rice project worth over US$5,000.
“IFAD has been helpful, but we still need more support to reach our full potential,” he added.
Gbanyan urged the government to invest more in local farmers and cooperatives, emphasizing that Liberia can feed itself if citizens are empowered and equipped to farm.
“We can reduce rice importation if we prioritize local production,” he stressed.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, Liberia spends millions of U.S. dollars annually on rice importation, despite the crop being the country’s staple food.
Since taking office in January 2024, President Boakai’s administration has made agriculture a key pillar of its national development plan under the ARREST Agenda — which stands for Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism. The government has pledged to boost local food production, support farmers, and reduce dependence on imported rice.
Meanwhile, Mr. Gbanyan is encouraging Liberians, especially youth and women, to “go back to the soil,” describing agriculture as a path to self-reliance and national prosperity if supported with the right tools and resources.
