Liberian IP Teams Work on Rice Cultivation

Liberians eat more rice than any other Africans. Yet, Liberia produces a little more than a third of the rice it needs, resulting the country having to import almost two-thirds of its requirement. As a result, rice is too expensive for most people causing a significant hardship for people.

Rice is grown in high-lands (mountainous regions) and lowland. Typically, high-grown rice fields require the cutting down of trees because the land cannot be re-used after harvest. For this reason, the government has been encouraging lowland rice farming. Rice grows in mud and therefore requires a lot of water. This is always a challenge, especially when countries are facing drought conditions.

This was the presenting problem for IP Team members in the villages of Gohn and Bambella. In each of the two communities, the IP Teams were able to secure land in the low-lands which was suitable for rice cultivation. They needed to do a feasibility study about the suitability of the ground and the environment.

A generous donor contributed funds, and the IP Teams connected with the Ministry of Agriculture to do the feasibility study.

Now the rice is planted and is growing. Members of the IP Teams come to the rice field (for some its about a 2 km walk) twice a week, to ensure the supply of water, to weed and to harvest. Needless to say the IP Team members are very proud of their accomplishments. They are now able to eat.