[Monrovia, Liberia, November 6, 2024] – The Ministry of Agriculture, through its Rural Economic Transformation Project (RETRAP), has inaugurated a modern vegetable booth in the 72nd Community of Paynesville. This new facility, funded by a loan from the World Bank, is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen market access and improve food security for local communities. 
During the handover ceremony, Agriculture Minister, Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, represented by Assistant Minister for Planning and Development, Mr. Francis Mulbah, emphasized the booth’s multidimensional impact, highlighting its role in enhancing market access, ensuring quality food, and reducing post-harvest losses. “Our goal at the Ministry is to create market access for producers, sellers, and consumers,” Minister Mulbah noted, describing the initiative as a "win-win situation," fostering fair trade where “neither party will be cheated."
Mr. Tarnue Jeke, representing RETRAP, reaffirmed the project's commitment to increasing productivity and supporting smallholder farmers, particularly vegetable growers. "The only way to encourage people to grow more is to provide a market for their products. When farmers have a reliable market, they can generate income and support their families,” he explained. He added that the beneficiaries have been trained in the scale system, ensuring fair pricing practices and good financial record-keeping.
For his part, the head of the Vegetables Sellers Association, Mr. Sumo Mulbah, expressed gratitude to the Ministry and Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah for delivering on the promise to construct more kiosks in Monrovia and its surroundings. He recalled the dedication of the first booth at Catholic Junction in May, emphasizing that this expansion will greatly benefit vegetable sellers across the city.
The vegetable booth initiative stems from the vision of Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, who witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by local vegetable sellers. Moved by their efforts to provide fresh produce to the community, Dr. Nuetah championed the vegetable booth concept to simplify pricing and reduce labor/ constraints for sellers.
With the successful launch of this Paynesville vegetable booth, the Ministry intends to expand the model to other counties, further enhancing market access for farmers and bolstering rural economies.