Gbarpolu County, July 17, 2014 – Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah has embarked on the second leg of his nationwide tour, visiting Gbarpolu, Bomi, and Grand Cape Mount counties to encourage farmers to increase food production and work towards making Liberia self-sufficient.

At the beginning of the five-day tour in Gbarpolu County, Dr. Nuetah reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to supporting farmers. He urged them to form cooperative groups to grow rice, corn, and cassava to earn better incomes, emphasizing the government’s commitment to providing machinery and other inputs to expand production and improve livelihoods. “The new model of farming we want to adopt is cooperative farming,” stated Dr. Nuetah. “We want you to work in smaller groups to earn income for yourselves. We want you to identify 100 acres of land with a group of 25 persons to work on. We will send yellow machines to clear that area and lay it out for you.”

Reiterating President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s vision of making Liberia 70% self-sufficient in rice production before the end of his tenure—a dream aligned with the National Agriculture Development Plan dubbed the “Liberians, Feed Yourselves Agenda”—Dr. Nuetah called on farmers to identify lowlands in their communities for lowland rice production. The goal is to achieve 50,000 hectares of lowland rice cultivation. “We are looking for farmers who are into lowland rice production. Our team will work with you to identify all the swamp lands, and we will survey and develop the land for you. Developing the lowlands in your various communities will help us improve rice production. If we improve rice production, we will reduce our rice imports because the money spent every year to import rice can be used for something else,” the minister emphasized.

Key concerns raised by farmers in Gbarpolu County included access to markets and the issue of elephants and birds destroying crops. Dr. Nuetah assured farmers that the Ministry of Agriculture was collaborating with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Forestry Development Authority to address crop destruction. Regarding market access, he revealed plans to attract investors to establish large processing plants for various commodities, ensuring market opportunities for smallholder farmers and paving the way for a brighter future in agriculture.

The Agriculture Minister’s nationwide tour, which has already taken him to Bong, Nimba, and Lofa counties, demonstrates his dedication to addressing farmers' concerns and recognizing their potential within various value chains. This people-centered approach ensures that farmers feel considered and valued, fostering a sense of security and optimism about the future of agriculture in Liberia.