An international organization, Global Village Connection, is leading Liberians to clear lands for food crop production.
By Ramsey N. Singbeh, Jr.
Margibi, Liberia, April 4, 2024 –Following their recent launch in the country, members and officials of the Global Village Connection-Liberia Foundation (GVC/LF) have embarked on the cultivation of large farmlands in different parts of Margibi County Districts #4&5 to grow crops and vegetables.
The GVC/LF is moving toward clearing approximately 14 acres of land to plant cassava, pineapples, eddoes, bitter balls, and peppers. Other crops include plantains, cucumbers, corn, and rice.
Currently facing challenges, locals, including men and women, are competitively brushing. Old folks in the organization are involved in the bush-clearing job.
The exercise is said to be taking place at seven different locations earmarked in the two districts. At the moment, they are collecting one cup of rice and L$100 each to provide meals for the work, as they appeal to the government and development partners to come to their aid.
Speaking to this paper at one of the brushing sites in district#4 on April 2, 2024, Andrew B. Thomas, GVC/LF National Financial Manager and Head of Entrepreneurs, said the GVC is an international organization with one of its branches established in Liberia.
He said while they await funding from their international partner, members and officials of the group have decided to take the lead in getting something done on the ground.
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He noted that the group is involved with many activities, including women and youth empowerment, a climate change program, Agriculture, and many others.
“For Liberia, we just launched sometime in February, but currently, we are awaiting our partner to start promoting us. Notwithstanding, we want to start doing something before our partner can come in; this is why our people are currently in the field working,” he said.
According to him, they are facing many problems now. He named feeding and a lack of necessary farming materials as a few of the challenges they are encountering.
He called on well-meaning Liberian and foreign organizations and philanthropists to support their activities.
When the organization was launched recently, its president, Sylvester Lepolu, said the group was established with a clear vision and mission of serving humanity unconditionally and bringing about global transformation for a better world. It also serves as a vehicle of hope for the weak and the voice of the voiceless, he added.
Mr. Lepolu stated that GVC’s mission entails many things, including achieving zero hunger in Liberia by 2028. This, he said, will be done through community farming, supporting small farmers, and creating market connectivity to ensure a balanced global food supply.
The group also seeks to achieve clean and green earth by 2035 through tree planting and land regeneration, implementation of safe and smart waste management, protection of the natural ecosystem, and green and clean energy initiatives.
GVC also wants to ensure clean drinking water by 2030 by creating access to clean drinking water and implementing rainwater harvesting system.
Mr. Lepolu also discussed the right to livelihood by 2030 through skill development across all sectors, sustainable employment creation, and access to sustainable finance.
He named a peaceful and safe world by 2035, which will address crimes and promote safety, provide peaceful education initiatives, and relocate displaced people affected by wars and natural calamities.
He added that GVC anticipates providing education, knowledge, and information for all by 2030 by ensuring universal access to basic education, exploring alternative basic education, and creating platforms for wider knowledge and information dissemination.
He noted that for the mission to be successful, GVC has a special target of uniting 50 million people by June 2024, 100 million by December 2024, and 500 million people by December 2025 worldwide.
This campaign targets farmers, artists, educators, doctors, and lawyers, as well as nutritionists, counselors, musicians, and wellness professionals.
He added that this is the time for GVC-Liberia Foundation to open the eyes of fellow Liberians to this global cause. Editing by Jonathan Browne
