Says WFI Reaffirms Commitment To Empower Over 52,000 Farmers
Monrovia, Liberia – Despite temporarily delaying its official start because of President Joseph N. Boakai’s departure from the country, the World Foundation International Multipurpose Agriculture Cooperative (WFI-MAC) has reaffirmed its commitment to the highly anticipated Operation Feed the Nation – Liberia campaign.
According to WFI executives, the launch, which was initially planned for Thursday, October 30, 2025, will now happen when the President returns. The program is still on track to empower more than 52,000 farmers throughout Liberia.
The cooperative chose to postpone the ceremony in order to allow President Boakai, who has been named the Keynote Speaker, to attend in person, according to Dr. John Wulu, the Board Chair, and Lincoln Z. Cooper, the WFI Chief Executive Officer.
“The event is not canceled; we have only postponed it out of respect for the President’s vital role in this national cause. Once he returns, we will proceed immediately. All logistics, farmer mobilization, and partner coordination remain in full gear,” Cooper stated.
A farmers’ parade and indoor ceremony are also planned to mark the beginning of what WFI describes as a five-year national movement to transform Liberia’s agricultural landscape. He said the event will attract thousands of farmers from all 15 counties, along with development partners, government officials, and members of the diplomatic community.
The Feed the Nation program has begun to demonstrate practical progress in spite of the postponement of the official debut. WFI-MAC reiterated its dedication to its goals of empowering 52,500 farmers across the country, encouraging food self-sufficiency, and lessening Liberia’s significant reliance on food imports, which are now estimated to cost the country $200 million a year.
“This is not just a project, it’s a movement, during the campaign’s earlier announcement on October 4. “We are mobilizing a nationwide call to rescue our farmers and feed our nation,” he said.
Speaking about empowering Women, Youth, and Rural farmers, Cooper explained that operating under the banner “Rescue Farmers,” WFI-MAC is engaging women, youth, and resource-limited farmers through MOUs for farmland access, community partnerships, and training programs. These efforts aim to enhance livelihoods, expand market access, and strengthen the governance of local cooperatives.
WFI’s Five-Year Agricultural Operations and Development Plan (2025–2030) includes the Feed the Nation program.
Increasing productivity through climate-smart technologies, giving farmers access to high-quality seeds, fertilizer, and tools, creating agro-processing hubs in each of the 15 counties, increasing local and regional market accessibility, helping vulnerable farmers with microgrants, healthcare, and shelter, and enhancing cooperative accountability and transparency are some of the essential elements.
In order to support evidence-based policy decisions, WFI-MAC also intends to carry out Liberia’s first national agricultural data survey, creating an extensive database on farmers and food insecurity. WFI’s Five-Year Agricultural Operations and Development Plan (2025–2030) includes the Feed the Nation program.
WFI Board Chair Dr. John T. Wulu, underscored the cooperative’s dedication to inclusivity and national unity through agriculture.
“For too long, our farmers have been neglected and forgotten. This initiative is about reaching every village, every community, and every farmer, no matter how remote. We are here to empower, rehabilitate, and uplift them,” Dr. Wulu stated.
In line with President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda, which places a strong emphasis on agriculture as its first pillar, he continued, Feed the Nation seeks to promote community development, job creation, export growth, and the empowerment of women and youth.
WFI-MAC promised the public that the same group of domestic and foreign guests would attend the launch, which would take place as soon as President Boakai returned. “This is more than farming. It’s about nation-building, empowerment, and survival. Agriculture must become the engine of Liberia’s economic growth and that engine starts now” ,” Dr. Wulu emphasized.
The Operation Feed the Nation campaign will officially span October 30, 2025 – October 30, 2030, marking five years of coordinated action to achieve food sovereignty and transform Liberia’s agricultural future.
“Agriculture is the backbone of Liberia’s economy and the foundation of national survival. It is the lifeline of our nation and the key to ending hunger and poverty. Through agriculture, communities are nourished, livelihoods are sustained, and national prosperity is secured,” Dr. Wulu narrated.
Reported by: Prince Saah
