The Ministry of Agriculture has begun a major decentralization program in the Country with the opening of its first decentralized office in Grand Bassa County.

The Agriculture Decentralized Office will coordinate all agricultural related activities in the county, reaching out to the farmers to enable them become self sufficient in food production.

Speaking at the formal opening ceremonies in Buchanan City Monday, January11, 2010, Agriculture Minister Dr. Florence Chenoweth said Agriculture is a priority to the Liberian Government and as such, the Grand Bassa decentralized office is one of four that will be opened this month in other counties. She added that subsequently, all fifteen counties will have a Ministry of Agriculture decentralized office.

Minister Chenoweth said, the decentralized office should not be seen as just another office but rather a replica of the main office such that all sections of the centralized office are represented in the county offices.

“The agriculture sector is not easy to be built anywhere in the World, especially one that was completely broken down as ours” Dr. Chenoweth said, but assured farmers that with support from Government and her development partners, Liberia will attain self sufficiency in food production in the near future.

She called on agriculture related NGOs in the country to coordinate their activities with the Ministry in order to help farmers with new methodologies. She also cautioned them not to give farmers small scale agro machines that are out dated or vehicles that are not field worthy.

Dr. Chenoweth paid tribute to former Minister of Agriculture Dr. J. Chris Toe for his innovation as it was during his tenure that the construction of the Technology Transfer Center began.

Making remarks on behalf of the Superintendent of Grand Bassa County Hon. Julia Duncan Cassell, the Administrative Assistant Mr. Charles S. Cole thanked the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Agriculture for its farsightedness and support to the decentralization exercise and asked the people of Bassa to utilize the offices for the good of all.

In a related development, keys for the newly constructed Technology Transfer Center was on the same day turned over to the Minister of Agriculture in District # 3 Grand Bassa County by Win Builders, the construction company hired by the Ministry.

During the turning over ceremonies, Minister Chenoweth thanked those farmers that left the county during the height of the Liberian civil strife but however returned home to make farms and be self sufficient.

Dr. Chenoweth said that for the first time in Liberia, there is an increase in rice production and the United States Government has provided funds to purchase Liberian grown rice to children in Liberian schools. Beans grown in Liberia and will also be included in the food basket.

She challenged the people of Grand Bassa County to go into poultry farming so that eggs can be available and affordable for the Liberian people and pledged her support in the endeavor.

The District Superintendent Hon. Abel Nyanbol thanked the Minister on behalf of the people of Grand Bassa and said for the first time they feel a part of the Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS).

Making remarks at the Program were representatives of farmers, elders, women and the commissioner.   

The Technology Transfer Center will train farmers how to use machines and other farming implements and will help them process their produce in a manner that will add value.