Minister Louis Farrakhan said it best during a speech to the citizens of Ghana, when he said: “…as long as somebody else is feeding you, you will never be free.  If somebody else is feeding us, if somebody else is clothing us, then we have not taken our destiny in our own hands.”

The Liberian agriculture sector is desperately in need of radical and progressive revitalization after years of neglect due to the long and brutal UNCIVIL war.  In each of Liberia’s 15 counties, an average of 80 to 90 percent of the population is engaged in farming related activities.  Subsistence farming is not only the main source of income for farmers, it is also the main source of income for the majority of Liberians, as an estimated 75% of Liberians are engaged in farming related activities.  Increasing farmers’ income and purchasing power, and bringing them out of subsistence farming would enable the country and the people to prosper, while at the time increasing the country’s ability to earn and conserve foreign exchange.

According to the county development agenda, “…NGOs have increased their efforts to supply basic inputs to farmers to jump-start the agricultural economy, but these efforts have not reached all areas of the Counties. Poor road conditions have not been supportive to the restoration of production capacities as rural areas remain unreachable, particularly during the rainy season”.  The jingles are great, and the fanfare to increase awareness and awaken our consciousness to the significance of this issue is even better, but I am still not confident that the underlying issues as to why the agriculture sector is producing so little, is being adequately addressed by the newly launched “back to the soil movement”. 

A few years back a well planned and extensive county-wide consultation exercise was undertaken by Madam/President Johnson sirleaf’s administration in all fifteen counties between September and December 2007. Citizens representing the various clans, towns, districts and county government, along with Liberia’s development partners identified the pressing needs and priority action areas to achieve sustained development in these counties.  Within the agriculture sector, farmers in the counties reported in large percentages that the major constraints for them are the lack seeds to plant; the lack of tools to plant the seeds; and lack of cash.  The below evidence clearly shows that the lack of seeds and tools are directly correlated to limited to or no access to cash to farmers or those involved in farming related activities.  If a farmer does not have cash, the farmer is unable to purchase seeds or tools; and if a farmer does not have seeds and tools, he/she is unable to be productive.

*The percentages were pulled from the County Development Agendas*

The gap between what is needed and what is provided to farmers is still alarmingly disproportionate, as a result many of our farmers are unable to farm or even provide for themselves in other sectors.  We should all, as Liberians be ashamed to utter out loud that are farmers are relying on handouts from NGOs for their survival.  In addition to a lack of financial and physical resources, non existent infrastructure continues to be a major challenge to reviving the agriculture sector, but for now the focus must be on getting farmers the necessary resources to go back to the soil, so that they are at least able to feed themselves before feeding the rest of us. 

I am encouraged to see that the Department of Regional Development and Extension, a program within the Ministry of agriculture, requested $100,000 for Tools and small equipment, and $265, 053 for Agricultural supplies and inputs for the 2009/2010 budget year.  This is an encouraging and positive step in the right direction; however more still needs to be done.  Although the “back to the soil” movement is essential to long term food sufficiency in Liberia, the process will remain a meaningless gimmick if it is not backed by a commitment to provide the financial and/or physical capital needed to boost production in the agriculture sector.

ACCESS TO CREDIT AND OTHER BANKING SERVICES
Lack of access to capital is a major factor hampering agricultural development in Liberia, as evidence by the table above. Most Liberians, especially those in the agriculture sector still have little to no access to credit. Because a large percentage of Liberian farmers and entrepreneurs have little to no access to modern banking services, many have been forced to turn to the informal sector to fill in the gap. In the formal financial sector, the average lending rate is 14.3%, while the informal sector lending rate is estimated at an interest rate of around 25%, almost twice the interest rate being offered in the formal sector.

Though commercial banks’ lending to the agriculture sector has improved since 2005, the country’s banking sector still has long ways to go in coming up with innovative and creative ways of extending credit to the agriculture sector.  According to the Central Bank’s financial statistics, as of April 2008, commercial banks’ lending to the agriculture sector was only 4.1% of total lending, while commercial banks’ lending to their personnel was twice the amount at 14.9%.  It is important to note that lending in the agriculture sector has being on a downward trend.  Lending to the agriculture sector has declined from a high of 11.9% in May of 2006, to the current April rate of 4.1%.  Limited to no access to credit represents a massive constraint to agricultural growth for the nation.  If the agriculture sector is to become the backbone of the Liberian economy, more needs to be done by the banking sector in extending credit to especially farmers.  Because the population does not have access to credit, there is very little possibility that the agriculture sector will increase production a whole lot more than what is currently being produced.

RECOMMENDATION
The government of Liberia, in conjunction with the Central Bank, needs to encourage commercial banks to come up with strategies to improve and increase lending to farmers and the agriculture sector as a whole.  If the government is unable to accomplish this task, it must find some means for providing subsidies to farmers.

A more radical recommendation is to create an AGRICULTURE BANK, with rural finance as the principal operational area.  The agriculture bank would provide low interest long and short term loans, business development services, basic technology training for literate farmers, financial literacy classes, and provide other services when the need arises.

CONCLUSION
Increasing access to low interest, short and long term loans will go a long way in minimizing the challenges and hardships the average farmer in Liberia endures.  Once our farmers are able to feed themselves in the near feature, we can all only hope that large scale mechanized farming would be the next logical way forward to long term food sufficiency in Liberia; but in order to undertake such a progressive agriculture campaign, the government in conjunction with the private sector, specifically the banking sector, will need to become more committed in terms of financial and non financial capital investment in our agriculture sector.  In spite of the constraints faced by the agriculture sector, I am optimistic that if giving the necessary tools, the Liberian agriculture sector, specifically the farming sector has the potential to become a booming industry, and possibly the bread basket for the MANO River States in the next two to three decades.

__________________

Ms. Nyankor Matthew holds Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, with a specialization in Public Administration, and a Master’s degree in Public and Environmental Affairs (MPA), with a specialization in Public/Government Finance.  She can reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Comments (9)

	1. 01-07-2009 13:30
	Excellent article Ms. Matthew!

V.R.

	2. 01-07-2009 19:11
	'Money is the Key to Successful Agricul SOUND ANALYSIS!!!! FEW ARTICLES INDICATING THAT SOME STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TOWARD A VIBRANT ARGRICULTURE SECTOR!!!    Speaking over the weekend at the launch of "back to the soil" campaign in Monrovia, Representative Slopadoe noted that once money is not infused into the process, it would be impossible for Liberians to feed themselves.     He said the printing of placards and billboards in Monrovia will not make the country to achieve its intended goal.     The Grand Kru County Lawmaker stressed that he is preparing to send a bill to his colleagues that will help government lobby for funding for the promotion of the back to the soil agricultural program.      Over US$3.3 million dollars is being looked at to put in a special account for the Agriculture sector from the Japanese Government donation of 84,000 ton of rice.    The release noted that proceeds from the sale of the rice will be put in a special account at the Central Bank to be used for developmental projects mainly in the Agriculture sector.    Rice is not the only argriculture products we should have interest in.    150 Oil Palm Farmers Receive High-Quality Palm Seedlings.    The oil palm project coordinator asserted that STCP, as part of its commitment to transfer knowledge and skills to farmers benefiting its program, a participatory training methodology was developed which led to the formation of the Farmer Learning Groups (FLGs) in each community benefiting from the project.     The FLGs requires each beneficiary to undergo nine months intensive training on the field in palm management and production before he /she is eligible to receive seedlings for planting.

TheLiberianPeople

	3. 02-07-2009 11:03
	'Money is the Key to Successful Agricul Very good article.Toteh and Towah should learn from Ms Matthew and contribute constructively to our country instead of fighting small boy fight.

Bro Dweh

	4. 02-07-2009 12:56
	Contribution On that note, Dweh what is your own contribution? very good article and Toteh and Towah is your quota to the "very good article"?    You sounded very childish than you think others are, Dweh.    Without butressing the article with a sound analysis, if I may say, is more than small boy fight.    The fact that you would mention Toteh and Towah, which is far from the article makes you a problem-not a solution.     In other words, you also are "fighting a small boy fight."

Amos

	5. 02-07-2009 13:14
	Contradiction Dweh Toteh has been entertaning us here with some good articles. Neverthelese, he has the right to direct exchanges with others on the forum.    The case in point has to do with your fellow Krahn who lied about his credentials to the forum.    If Toteh deemed it fit to investigate anyone he can do so at no cost.     It is left with the individual (Towah) to present a genuine response backed by supporting documents to prove the story worng.    But instead, he chose to engage the reporter/investigator personally.    So you see what you have started and done to this "very good article"? That is called sabatage.    Why if Toteh and Towah come after you. This important discussion will become chaotic.    If you don't have anything to offer, or anythjing to say, just shut up and no one will know the level of your intelligence and your imbecility    In additional, Unlike Nyankor, Toteh is not a political activist.    Most importantly, you Dweh you are trying to divert the discussioin to issue, non-related.    I think you are the same character as Towah.

Toteh's admirer

	6. 02-07-2009 14:00
	Dweh Dweh you see what you are doing. This discussion is neither Krahn election nor Toteh/Towah.    Why you Krahn people are just a bunch of confunisionits?    You are trying to drag your Krahn stuff here to this discussion.     I rebuke you 100xs.

Concerned

	7. 02-07-2009 16:13
	Dweh's Contradiction Most people would agree that Miss Nyankor has written yet again another good article. I would rather deal with the article then come in with another topic that completely misses the mark.    True to the core, Liberian farmers are eager to farm. They need asistance in the area of seeds, tools and cash. I doubt that cash assistance will be handed out to them. Even if the government wanted to, I am not sure how the cash would be disbursed without the regular theft that all of us are aware of.     My greatest concern is roads! The farmers will eventually get tools, seeds, etc. Cash assistance may go out, again, I will not rest my head on it simply because of the reason I have given above..... theft! I am reminded of what the Edcation Ministry does. There at the Ministry is something called "education officers". These people are given teachers' paychecks to be handed out to teachers in the counties. When these so-called education officers arive in the counties, they demand pocket change money before a poor teacher's paycheck is handed out. This is not legal. It's an "under the table" deal.     Although it is not done all the time, however in Nimba county (year 200, an education officer (who ran out of luck, if you believe in luck) was caught demanding a pocket change before handing out a poor teacher's check that was rightfully his. I know what I am talking about. I have taught in the US for well over 15 years! I do not want to see a situation like this repeated if farmers are to be "given cash assistance" as a farming incentive.    Frankly, I am not being pessimistic. But, roads are an essential element in terms of transporting their crops to the markets. Overall, the idea is briliant indeed. Liberians need to farm in order to feed themselves and if possible, trade the abundance of what they produce to countries that might have a need.     I wish there would be paved roads. Perhaps that is in the pipeline, I have no way of knowing. But, if there aren't any plans to construct and pave roads, the gravel roads could be maintained if they're constructed. It'd be a blessing to the people of Liberia. I would like to see the day when a paved road would be constructed between Maryland county and Monrovia.    Roads are needed everywhere in Liberia. Roads are an incentive to economic development. Counties that are closer to Monrovia are better off. Example, a farmer who loads up a truck full of corn at 6am in Gbarnga, Bong County, will encounter almost no "muddy road condition or numerous potholes" until he arrives in Monrovia before noon. On the other hand, a farmer in the counties of Sinoe, Gee or Maryland will have pay bribes to the "union people" on the dingy roads and would have slept on the muddy and bumpy road sometimes because of a vehicle breakdown. By the time the southeastern farmer arrives in Monrovia, his crops would rotted. Why? Because the roads are not presently considered as a high priority item on the "back to soil" movement, if I may term it as such. All we hear is that "farmers get ready to farm", but that's it.    A while back, I drove my car from Chicago to Memphis in 7-8 hours. That distance (the Memphis-Chicago) is longer than the distance between Maryland county and Monsterrado.But, a motorist cannot drive his car from Harper to Monrovia within 8 hours. It's not impossible, but is unlikely at this particular time becuase of the ugly road system we have. Roads are an essential quality and equal in value (in my view) as the back to soil movement.    I will be realistic. I support overwhelmingly the "back to soil" movement. The EJS government has made few mistakes previously. This time, they're headed in the right direction.

F. S. Hney

	8. 02-07-2009 16:32
	Give me a brake. It seem my county ( Sinoe co.) is not part of Liberia.    MY question is, what is the point of going back to the soil to produce food if the food can not rach the consummers? Because of no roads. How about the U.N and the government considered first Telecommunications, and farm to market roads?    Individual hand farms will not make a major difference compared to a large mechine made government farms. I know we've being down this road before. Say I am interested in Chickens and coin farms in the interial of white sandy sinoe county. How do I get connected with the consummers markert?    How do I place orders for tools, and regular farm supplies? what about normal security? Or I'll be on my own? or a chance to lost my investment to criminals? I supposed we'll disregard everything and just go back to the soil. Give me a brake. Mr. "Back to the Soil" I'll be there, went I get there.  Mouth talked back to the soil is not enough..

Thomas Doe

	9. 04-07-2009 04:36
	Give me a brake. From selling on a sidewalk in Harlem, Richelieu Dennis and Nyema Tubman transformed drops of scented oil into Sundial Creations, a business conglomerate that today includes 4 retail stores and a state of the art 50,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility.    A mixture of tenacity, determination and perseverance helped the two friends turn adversity into a profitable business. In 1991, a civil war in their homeland Liberia had destroyed most of the family's personal possessions. Dennis and Tubman immigrated to the United States but the situation was not much brighter as they found themselves suddenly unemployed.    Dennis decided to use years of helping his grandmother create soaps, four generations of family recipes, and a vision to offer premium products to underserved and overlooked communities in creating his own ray of sunshine. In 1992, the two began to sell their wares along the sidewalks of 125th Street in New York City.    By their second year, Dennis and Tubman were manufacturing their products in a 3,000 square foot plant, and selling their products through a network of street vendors, convenience stores, health food shops and beauty supply retailers. In 2000, they opened their first store, Nubian Heritage, not far from the sidewalks of 125th Street where they first started.    Sundial holds a unique position in the marketplace. They provide customers and retail partners, both domestic and international, with natural and organic health, beauty and personal care solutions. The company does not participate in animal testing. All products are tested by company family members and friends. And Sundial is 100% minority-owned.    Dennis and Tubman also strive to make a positive impact beyond our skin. The company purchases ingredients directly from women cooperatives and indigenous farmers in Africa, paying above market prices to help improve the standard of living for those suppliers. They are working closely with local and international organizations, including ECOSERVE and AFRICARE, to protect the integrity of ingredients and improve production processes to ensure sustainable harvests. Partnering with organizations such as The Liberian Education Fund and Todee Mission, the company is working to build schools and provide access to education for impoverished girls in Africa, many of who are suppliers of Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter and other natural ingredients.    Locally, the company provides community entrepreneurs, artists and authors a platform to sell their crafts, books, jewelry, clothing and other handmade products through the Sundial Stores. A percentage of sales are donated to local congregations to support youth and other community development programs. http://www.nubianheritage.com

Americo-Liberian

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