On June 1-15 a range of activities took place underpinned by FED’s aim to improve food security in Liberia.
Progress in UDP site preparation ramped up between June 1-15 and transplanting of rice in six 20×20 sites has been completed on schedule (see cover photo). Nimba County Manager Horace Yansine and representatives from the FED Rice Value Chain were pleased to facilitate a USAID visit to one UDP site in Nimba on June 13.
Two goat shelters were completed during this period in Bong and work is underway to complete the remaining shelters in Lofa and Nimba in late June and early July. At the beginning of the month STTA Livestock Policy Specialist Dr. Kwaku Agyemang presented his livestock policy documents to the MOA, this is the first document of its kind to be reviewed by the (soon to be finalized) Liberian National Agricultural Policy Hub the policy document made recommendations on the market impact on the import of goats and veterinary pharmaceuticals.
A market linkaging event was held in Ganta, Nimba on June 14. Fifty (30 males and 20 females) farmers, aggregators, transporters and caterers participated in the event and were informed of the ArcelorMittal market opportunity. FED in collaboration with Building Markets organized the event aimed at enabling producers and aggregators to supply locally produced agricultural products for steel mining company catering services throughout Liberia.
261 Agri-business textbooks were distributed to FED selected Community Colleges; these books will serve as essential resources to students and academics. Further distribution is scheduled for the rest of the month.
FED STTA Larry Tweed arrived on June 13 and will be supporting input supply activities particularly focusing on rolling out the voucher program to FED farmer beneficiaries in partnership with selected agro-input dealers throughout the months of June and July.