Liberia's Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah has officially launched the harvesting of 100 acres of rice at Kpatawee Waterfall in Bong County. The launch was attended by the company's management, local farmers, and residents of Kpatawee and surrounding communities. Minister Nuetah commended the company's investment, highlighting the importance of private sector participation in strengthening Liberia's agricultural production.
Gbedin Agro-Business Incorporated, the company behind the rice farm, began cultivation at the site in June 2023 and projects a harvest of approximately 120 metric tons of rice. The company plans to expand its Kpatawee operation to 1,500 acres, subject to securing additional machinery and processing equipment. This expansion aims to increase the supply of locally grown rice in Liberia.
The harvest comes a day after President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. presided over the official handover of over 300 pieces of agricultural machinery and equipment donated by the Government of the People's Republic of China. The donated equipment aims to boost domestic food production in Liberia. Minister Nuetah emphasized that mechanization remains central to the Government's efforts to expand cultivation, increase productivity, and achieve food self-sufficiency.
Minister Nuetah disclosed that the Ministry of Agriculture supported the farm with agricultural inputs, including fertilizers and agrochemicals, and deployed a combine harvester to reduce harvesting costs. The machine is expected to remain on-site for two to three weeks. He urged Liberians to get back to the soil and scale up production to feed the nation.
The Minister stressed that the availability of agricultural machinery must be matched by farmers' willingness to cultivate more land and increase food production. He encouraged Liberians to find their fields and take advantage of the machines to grow more and feed the nation. Only by scaling up production can Liberia feed itself, Minister Nuetah emphasized.
Gbedin Agro-Business Incorporated already operates a 250-acre lowland rice farm in Gbedi, Nimba County. The company now plans to introduce Kpatawee Rice as an additional locally produced brand. The Project Manager of Gbedin Agro-Business Incorporated, Harry Kerkula, expressed satisfaction with the harvest and noted that the local community made the land available for the 100-acre farm.
Kerkula disclosed plans to make a portion of the harvested rice available to cooperating farmers while processing and marketing the remainder. He said the company's proposed expansion to 1,500 acres would require additional tractors, power tillers, and rice-processing equipment. The Kpatawee Harvest highlights the growing role of private agribusinesses in advancing the Government's agricultural mechanization and food self-sufficiency agenda.
Key points
- The Liberian government is promoting agricultural mechanization to boost domestic food production.
- Gbedin Agro-Business Incorporated plans to expand its rice farm to 1,500 acres.
- The company aims to introduce Kpatawee Rice as a new locally produced brand.
