LOCAL WOMEN AGRICULTURE GROUP SEEKS SUPPORT TO BOOST FARMING INITIATIVES IN LOFA COUNTY
By G. Victoria Wesseh
March 16, 2025
Voinjama, Liberia – A local women’s agriculture group, Women Agriculture Promoter (WAP), is seeking assistance to expand its farming initiatives and overcome key challenges. Founded in 2021, WAP is a self-initiated organization with 75 members, 71 women and 4 men established by Ellen Joemah Ndebeh
Committed to improving agricultural production in LPMC Town, Voinjama, the organization focuses on value addition in farming by processing avocado, vegetables, rice, cassava, and corn into marketable products. WAP operates a rice swamp, vegetable farm, cassava garden, pepper farm, and corn farm.
The organization successfully harvested 50 bags of 50kg rice from an initial planting of 27 kilos, generating 98,000 LRD in revenue. An additional 20,000 LRD was earned from cassava sales, and they anticipate earning over 100,000 LRD from corn sales.
Their value-added products include: Fufu and gari made from cassava Avocado oil and tea made from butter pear, known for its health benefits, including relief from headaches, colds, and coughs. These products are primarily sold in Voinjama and occasionally ordered to Monrovia, bringing sustainable income to the group.
Despite their success story, WAP faces major challenges, including Lack of farming tools (shovels, rain boots, raincoats, cutlasses, power tillers) Limited transportation (need for weed barriers and trucks to move produce) Low market demand, making it difficult for farmers to sell in bulk, “If farmers produce more but don’t have enough buyers, they become discouraged,” said Mrs Ndebeh. “Most of these women are single mothers trying to provide for their families.”
Mrs. Ndebeh emphasized that WAP aims to contribute to food security and poverty reduction in Liberia. She is calling on the government and agricultural stakeholders to provide tools, financial support, and market access to help expand their farming efforts. Ma Nancy Kolubah, an elderly member of WAP, expressed gratitude to Mrs Ndebeh for her leadership in uniting women for agricultural development. “This organization has brought so much unity among women in LPMC Town,” she said, urging the government to recognize and support WAP’s mission.
Victoria Gizzie, a beneficiary of the Star Project, highlighted how the organization has empowered women in farming. “Working together in unity and achieving our goals brings happiness,” she said, stressing that lack of tools remains a major challenge. Mary Saywallah, another WAP member, shared how Mrs Ndebeh has helped teach modern farming techniques. “Before, I planted rice without knowing the proper method. Now, I have a successful farm thanks to her training,” she said, encouraging more women to join WAP and become skilled farmers.
While WAP has not received direct government funding, members remain hopeful. Their self-sustaining efforts and determination show that rural women can drive agricultural transformation if given the right support. The organization urges local authorities, NGOs, and government agencies to invest in their work, ensuring that smallholder farmers especially women can thrive and contribute to Liberia’s agricultural economy.
