Agriculture Minister donates water machine

Liberia’s Agriculture Minister Dr. Mogana Flomo, Jr., has donated a brand new water machine to the Kerkemah United Farming Union (KUFU) in Sekwah, Nimba County.

The machine will be used by the local farming group to water their garden, especially during the dry season.Prior to this intervention, the local farmers usually faced difficulties in getting water for their garden during the dry season, thus leaving their plants to be damaged by the sun.

Speaking during the presentation of the water machine, Minister Flomo stated that the donation was intended to buttress the efforts of the farmers in that part of the Country.

According to him, members of KUFU are doing extremely well and as such, the Ministry of Agriculture needs to buttress their efforts by supporting them. Dr. Flomo pledges the Ministry’s commitment to supporting Liberian farmers to help them grow their own food.

Our correspondent says Minister Flomo wants the local farmers to see the donation as a direct help from President George Manneh Weah.“I don’t want you to say that President Weah has not helped you people here. Since President Weah appointed me as Minister of Agriculture and I have been able to bring you a brand new machine, that means that the President has helped you because he doesn’t have to come directly to do so,” Dr. Flomo adds.

Receiving the machine on behave of the group, KUFU Co-Chair Mary Gbenzonkar and the president J. Alvin Koikoi extended commendations to Minister Flomo for the kind gesture.

They local farmer officials promise to use the machine for its intended purpose.Mr. Koikoi and Madam Gbenzonkar say they have been working as farming group Sekwah since the end of the civil war, but have never received support from anyone besides Minister Flomo.

They say people usually come and collect money from them under the pretense that they will bring support.But complain that when the people leave, they do not lift up to their commitment.

The two KUFU officials urges Minister Flomo to continue supporting their group, adding that with the support of the Agriculture Ministry, they will always have the means of feeding and sending their children to school.

Also speaking, the Director General of the Central Agriculture Research Institute Dr. Marcus Jones extended commendations to the farmers for engaging in farming activities.

Dr. Jones states that it is important for the residents to help themselves instead of always depending on government.The KUFU Members are currently planting cabbage, pepper, bitter balls, okra and cassava.

By Joseph Titus Yekeryan in Bong–Edited by Winston W. Parley