Barclay Karnley Jr
KLAY, BOMI CO.: Bomi County Klay District Commissioner, Momo P. Seh has pushed back against claims that citizens of Bomi County are lazy and unwilling to work for the production of food.
Speaking at the official opening for the harvesting of over twenty-five (25) acres of farmland in Gbalakpah, Bomi County, the Klay District Commissioner said his admin administration is cultivating the rice to prove to Liberians home and abroad that citizens of the County are hardworking and committed to feeding themselves.
“The reason people say citizens of Bomi are lazy is that they are not visiting their farms, and our people do not early in time to disprove this notion. Our people have farms, travel distances and many people do not have the time to do follow-up to see for themselves,” he asserted.
The Commissioner encourages more residents to return to agriculture rather than depend on imported food for consumption.
The 25-acre rice farm is expected to produce tons of rice for onward distribution after harvest while helping to supply local farmers in the County with rice seedlings and also provide training for smallholder farmers and create jobs for youth and women.
The Klay District Commissioner further called on residents and citizens of the County, especially young people, to take up farming and support local food production.
“I am motivated to get involved into rice production or farming due to the President’s emphasis and commitment to ensure that Liberians feed themselves through agriculture. President Boakai appointed me as commissioner and I need to motivate my people to get involved into agriculture then the dream of the president will be realized and before his dream is realized, we as commissioners and government officials must take the lead,” he emphasized.
Commissioner Seh also revealed that several chiefs in the district are currently and actively involved in rice production in support of the President’s AAREST agenda which places emphasis on agriculture.
He further revealed that with the introduction of agriculture machines in Liberia, citizens of the County will massively produce rice or other crops on a large scale to enable them feed themselves.
Also in attendance during the opening for the harvesting of the rice, Bomi County Ministry of Agriculture Coordinator, Samuel Smith, noted that the Ministry is actively working to provide support for farmers in the County.
“Since we took over at the Ministry of Agriculture, the Boakai’s regime has noticed that the narrative has started changing. We are observing massive production in terms of rice and cassava in Bomi County. The only major problem we have now is uptake. We don't have major buyers of the rice and cassava our farmers are producing in Bomi County,” he revealed.
He however maintained that the ongoing harvesting of rice in the County is a testament that the people of Bomi County have officially decided to go back to the soil and provide their own food for consumption.
“You know, anybody who feeds you has control over your thinking. So, it's a wonderful and blessed idea that the citizens, the commissioners, the paramount chiefs, clans and towns chief including the people of Bomi County have decided to go back to the soil and provide their own food,” Smith emphasized.
The County Agriculture Coordinator further disclosed that there are several cooperatives in the County that are buying rice and other vegetables while at the same time calling on the government of Liberia through the Ministry of Agriculture for the provision of more farming equipment to boost productivity in the County.
Smith meanwhile noted that farmers in the County are often disappointed due to the low purchase of crops adding that many farmers produce on a large scale and the purchasing of their crops remains a major challenge.
“We have provided 6,000 pepper seedlings to 30 farmers already and we are providing some avocados in Borne County. We have distributed... I think 46 or 60,000 coffee seedlings. So there are some imports being made. In terms of implementing the arrest agenda, is it mandatory for chiefs, commissioners, and to ensure that they work within our direction, especially the issue of agriculture which is mandatory under the ARREST Agenda for all chiefs or government officials,” he intimated.
The official opening for the cultivation of the rice farm was attended by several chiefs, including paramount, clan, town chiefs, youths and several citizens who went to grace the occasion calling it a milestone achievement and a motivation to invest in agriculture.
Rice is Liberia's staple food, and the country has long relied on imports to meet demand. Government and community leaders have repeatedly urged farmers to expand local production to improve food security and cut costs.
Towards Economic Empowerment And Reconciliation
