Liberia: March 14, 2024The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) has rejuvenated the farm of the University of Liberia with the provision of two tractors, four power tillers, irrigation equipment and high-yielding assorted vegetable seeds to introduce technology-enhanced agricultural learning at the University.

The rejuvenation of the UL farm, located at the Fendall Campus is also meant to empower students for agricultural cooperatives, according to the MoA.

The initiative is being implemented by the MoA through its  Smallholder Agriculture Development for Food and Nutrition Security (SADFONS).

SADFONS is a US$8 million grant from the Global Agriculture Food Security Program (GAFSP) for Liberia. GAFSP is dedicated to improving food and nutrition security worldwide. 

Agriculture Minister, Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, said that his ministry has partnered with the University to make the farm as a model for agricultural learning in Liberia.

According to him, the farm is expected to contribute immensely to the development of the agricultural sector.

“We want the farm to address the issue of poor extension services facing the country, and to develop the skills of students for agricultural cooperatives,” he said.

Minister Nuetah spoke last Thursday at the UL Fendell Campus, when he launched the Agriculture Farm.

The William R. Tolbert College of Agriculture and Forestry farm was established in 1967 to prepare students as agriculture technicians for the country. But the civil conflict ravaged the farm and, since then, not much was done to restore the farm to its pre-war status.

Minister Nuetah said that President Joseph Nyumah Boakai wants agriculture done differently to impact the economy.

“The reason that we are here today is to lay the foundation for the agricultural development system on the UL campus because it started here before. We want the farm to become a place for best agricultural learning,” he said.

He mentioned that the vision of the President is to see agricultural students graduating to manage their own farms.

“The President wants the students to become master farmers and not to wait for employment upon graduation,” he said.

According to Nuetah, his ministry will support the farm in the areas of lowland rice and vegetable production at the moment.