Monrovia, Liberia – In Gbedin, Nimba County, Jefferson Mealor, co-chair of the Dokodan Farmers’ Cooperative, boasted with a smile, that the support received from the Accelerated Community Development Programme (ACDP) has transformed the cooperative.
The cooperative received farm equipment and its implements, post-harvest processing machines, improved rice seeds, fertilizer, basic farming tools to increase productivity, and capacity-building training at different levels of governance, business development, and the handling and management of agrochemicals.
“For instance, the cooperative received new machines and even improvements to our office space. We can properly maintain our machines following training opportunities provided by UNDP. For this, we are grateful,” Mealor noted.
In its first phase of rice production, the Dokodan Cooperative targeted over 400 acres, with 309 acres already cultivated. He mentioned that they need additional equipment to reach their target.
“The cooperative aims to cover about 410 acres but needs additional equipment. Right now, we can only manage 309 acres. But if we receive additional support, especially from UNDP, we could expand,” he added.
The expansion, he said, will cover an additional 101 acres of undeveloped land they have obtained.
“In the past, farming was difficult, and our yields were very low. Some farmers harvested only a small amount per hectare. Now, we produce better yields, processing has improved, and produce stored in the warehouse has doubled with more farmers bringing their crops in for preservation. UNDP/ACDP has also elevated the capacity of farmer cooperatives by hiring trainers to educate farmers on better farming techniques,” Jefferson narrated.
The supply of water is another challenge the cooperative faces. “If we had a better irrigation system, we could plant and harvest several times a year instead of just once. This would significantly increase our production and income. For example, if someone used to get 50 bags of produce per hectare, with improved water access, they could harvest three times a year bringing in up to 160 bags.
The government could also help by setting fair prices for farmers, ensuring sustainability,” he added.
The Dokodan farmer cooperative is working with 2,050 farmers, hoping to recruit additional members to cover the land space secured for agricultural purposes. Mealor is optimistic that the agriculture sector will improve with support from the government and its partners.
“We are witnessing steady progress, with colleges and universities improving the agriculture curriculum.”
He encouraged other communities not to depend on the government for everything but to engage in agriculture because it provides self-employment. “You can sustain yourself, support your family, and even send your children to school from making farms,” Mealor said.
The Gbedin community in Nimba County, in the northern part of Liberia, has an estimated population of three thousand inhabitants. The Gbedin Rice Station established in the 1980s was not demolished but looted during the civil war, taking away its processing equipment.
However, the cooperative uses it as a warehouse or storage facility for its tools and machinery and looks forward to reestablishing it as a fully operational post-harvest processing facility. The Government of Liberia, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), brought hope to farmers in 2023 with the launch of the Accelerated Community Development Programme (ACDP) in 2022.
The ACDP aims to strengthen human capital and resilience to shocks and pandemics, facilitate and contribute to the national development plan, and, by extension, contribute to efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Reported by: Simeon Wiakanty
Contact: +231881538878
