Monrovia, Liberia – The lives of many local farmers, especially women, are taking on new dimensions with support from projects managed by UNDP and its partners through the government of Liberia. The Nimba Women Agriculture Cooperative in Nimba County is making steady progress in the agriculture sector with interventions from UNDP.
“We started this initiative with four women, later grew to fifty, and now we have over 200 members,” says Plenseh McCoy, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nimba Women Agriculture Cooperative.
With excitement, Madam McCoy explained that they received a grant of US$40k as one of the winners of the Growth Accelerated Program through the UNDP’s Livelihood and Employment Creation project after a rigorous selection process that lasted six months. Initially, they processed and produced in a backyard kitchen space, but with support from the project and other donors, they now have a dedicated processing site.
“We used the money to acquire land, build a site where we now operate, construct a storage facility, and purchase essential equipment and logistics, including a pickup and a motorcycle for transportation purposes. Today, as you can see, we are booming, adding value to cassava.
We produce and sell cassava products on a large scale at a 50% increase, supplying many customers, including supermarkets. This grant has allowed us to establish a strong foundation, but we are not stopping here we aim to grow even further,” she narrated.
She said the cooperative plans to venture into cassava flour production in a few years. “The group wants to expand further by diversifying its agricultural products, including growing cassava on a larger scale.
According to our survey, many people purchase cassava flour produced abroad, so producing it locally for export will strengthen women’s economic empowerment and ability to participate in markets, control productive resources, and access decent work. We also aim to contribute to the school feeding program by supplying locally grown and processed food products,” Plenseh explained.
Despite the gains made, the cooperative still faces some challenges. McCoy stated, “We face challenges, particularly in securing raw materials and dealing with unreliable electricity. Our processing facility requires a consistent power supply, but frequent outages hinder our operations, affecting our ability to meet customer demands.”
Even with these challenges, McCoy is not holding back; she is encouraging other women and aspiring entrepreneurs to keep pushing forward. “Women who want to venture into agriculture or any business, do not be discouraged. Seek opportunities, stay committed, and look for support where necessary,” she urged.
McCoy also expressed gratitude to donors and encouraged them to continue their support for women and youth. She believes investing in dedicated individuals and organizations like theirs will further ensure long-term growth and development.
The Nimba Women Agriculture Cooperative assists other farmers in poultry farming. It is a group of smallholder farmers, including women and People with disabilities, in the agricultural sector farming vegetables, cassava, rice, livestock, etc.
Madam Plenseh McCoy, CEO of the Nimba Women Agriculture Cooperative, made a symbolic display of some of the products.
McCoy came from a background where both parents were farmers. “I always saw myself working alongside them to get food to eat. Given this background, I decided to follow my family’s path, not to sit idly, but to empower women and people with disabilities,” Plenseh concluded.
The UNDP-funded Livelihood & Employment Creation Project in Liberia aims to enhance economic opportunities and improve the livelihoods of vulnerable populations, particularly women and youth. It seeks to foster inclusive economic growth and empower vulnerable groups in Liberia, contributing to long-term stability and development.
Reported by: Simeon Wiakanty
Contact: +231881538878
