LPA seeks transformation in agriculture sector

Liberia Project Africa or LPA, a local group is calling on stakeholders and Liberians generally to work together in transforming the agriculture sector here.

Executive Director Buster Hennings says it’s about time Liberians do away with subsistence farming, which he describes as “hand- to-mouth” situation that is not helping the economy and the country at large.

According to him, currently based in Grand Bassa County, LPA is trying to come to Monrovia to dialogue with the Ministry of Agriculture and other stakeholders that have a vision of transforming Liberia from one stage to another.

Speaking on a local radio station in Monrovia, he stresses a need to aggressively fight hunger now to make the country self-sufficient in food.

“We hardly find vegetables on the Liberian market, because we have not created the awareness that we can transform from one stage to another like any other country”, he notes.

Mr. Hennings however expresses optimism that the new government would do better in transforming the country with support from international partners, adding that his group intends to dialogue with people, who are interested in growing the agriculture sector.

He says Liberia needs to reach to a place where the country could export food rather than receiving all the time from other countries.

“We are currently based in Grand Bassa County, we have been meeting with some of the farmers and we are gradually trying to get around the whole of Bassa and Rivercess as well. We are also about to open adult education program on agriculture, tailoring, hair dressing etc, it’s free. We also have about 3,000 books for students from USAID”, the LPA executive director discloses.

Liberia spends millions of dollars annually on food importation, specifically rice, the nation’s staple.

President George Manneh Weah recently met with importers in Monrovia and secured their commitment to reduce prices of the commodity by $5.00 and $2.00 respectively, but the promises are yet to be fulfilled.

By Ethel A. Tweh-Editing by Jonathan Browne