The head of a Chinese agriculture delegation to the Central Agriculture Research Institute (CARI) Tuesday said China remains a strong partner to Liberia's food security drive and will do all it can in ensuring that local Liberian farmers adopt methods that will make Liberia capable of feeding itself.
Yang Yi, director of foreign economy at the Ministry of Agriculture, made the remarks Tuesday when their delegation inspected the Chinese Agricultural Technology Demonstration (CATD) center in Suakoko, Bong County.
Yi admonished Liberian farmers at the center to maintain commitment in order to make Liberia a sustainable food-producing nation.
Yi said Liberia's quest of becoming a sustainable food-producing country needs continued partnership with China and requires the collective efforts of all farmers in the country.
The CATD center is one of 11 areas setup in Suakoko since July 2010 by the Chinese government through the Ministry of Agriculture to complement the skills of local farmers through basic trainings in agriculture. Over 50 farmers have been trained in rice, vegetable, livestock, and maize production while 100 local farmers are said to be undergoing trainings in similar exercise.
The team leader of the Central Agriculture Research Institute (CARI) Aaron Marshall buttressed Yi's remarks. Marshall, a Liberian, admonished his counterparts to make sufficient use of skills they will acquire to serve as ambassadors for farmers who are not opportune to form part of trainings being offered at the center.
"This is a golden opportunity for you the farmers. Be focused and learn the best to become ambassadors for your peers," Marshall said.
Marshall said plans are underway by CARI management to offer 10 power tillers each to Liberia's 15 counties as a means of enhancing productivity. Marshall also said the power tillers would be given to farmers who can operate it well. "We have 54 power tillers but will give it to those who can operate it well," Marshall said.
The Chinese experts' visit coincided with a weeklong workshop on agriculture production. The workshop is the second to be held in 2013 and will center on power tiller operation and maintenance, vegetable and maize production, rice production, post-harvesting handling and livestock production.
Each exercise will admit 20 trainees for ten days. Power tiller operation and maintenance, vegetable and maize production, rice production, post-harvesting handling will be funded by the World Bank while livestock production will be sponsored by the China Agriculture Technology Demonstration Center
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