Africa-Press – Liberia. The Kakata Rural Teacher Training Institute (KRTTI) has begun harvesting 3.8 hectares of lowland rice on its campus in support of the Government of Liberia’s ARREST Agenda—specifically its agriculture pillar—in Kakata, Margibi County.
The Agricultural Specialist and Trainer at KRTTI, David G. Taigbailee, providing an overview at the launch of the harvest on Thursday, October 9, 2025, emphasized that food insecurity remains a pressing issue in Liberia—one that should engage all sectors, including educational institutions.
Mr. Taigbailee explained that the institution operates a feeding program, which frequently relies on sourcing local food items from the market. This recurring need, he said, inspired KRTTI to strengthen its agricultural efforts as a step toward self-reliance.
He disclosed that the institute has a long-standing agriculture department that has actively engaged in farming for several years.
He noted that the school’s agricultural committee collaborated with its farm management team to engage the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), via the Margibi County office, to seek support through the Emergency Rice Production Offensive (ERPO) project.
Mr. Taigbailee disclosed that as a result of this engagement, KRTTI was awarded a US$5,000 grant to cultivate five hectares of lowland rice. However, before receiving the grant, he said, KRTTI administration had already provided initial funding for swamp clearing, layout, and rice planting.
Mr. Taigbailee further disclosed that only 30% of the US$5,000 has been disbursed so far, enabling the cultivation of just the 3.8 of the five hectares earmarked for cultivation.
He is, however, appealing for the release of the remaining funds to complete the project and further proposed that the Ministry of Agriculture consider utilizing KRTTI’s agricultural team to provide basic training for rice farmers in Kakata and surrounding communities.
Meanwhile, Madam Sorna F. Sherif, Director of KRTTI, described the rice harvest as a significant milestone that demonstrates the productive potential of the school land and reinforces the institute’s commitment to the ARREST Agenda.
“Importantly, the launch of our harvest coincides with the national launch of the ‘Liberians Feed Yourselves’ initiative today. This alignment confirms that we are truly on course,” she said.
Madam Sherif extended appreciation to the Ministry of Agriculture for its prompt technical and financial assistance, recalling how the ministry quickly dispatched a team to survey KRTTI’s wetlands upon request.
She emphasized that agriculture is an integral component of KRTTI’s broader strategy to make teacher education more practical, inclusive, and community-focused.
“By integrating hands-on agriculture into our training programs, we aim to produce teachers who are not only strong in pedagogy but also equipped to promote self-reliance and food security in rural communities. This directly supports the Agriculture pillar of the ARREST Agenda,” she explained.
Madam Sherif highlighted that the successful harvest reflects teamwork, innovation, and a commitment to institutional sustainability—another key pillar of the ARREST framework.
She described the project as a powerful example of how education can serve both as a knowledge tool and a means of livelihood improvement.
“I sincerely appreciate the Agriculture Department and Committee, the Farm Supervisor, our trainees, and all staff who worked tirelessly to achieve this result. Your collective effort embodies the transformation we strive for—where discipline, skill, and commitment lead to meaningful change,” she remarked.
She urged trainees to remain focused on KRTTI’s broader mission, including training of competent, ethical, and community-oriented teachers who will drive development at the grassroots level.
“Let this harvest remind us that with a shared vision and unity of purpose, we can grow—not just in the classroom, but also on the field and in our impact on the nation,” she stated.
Also speaking, E. Musu Tuah-Young, Margibi County Agriculture Coordinator, commended the institute for its initiative.
She said the rice project aligns perfectly with the government’s ARREST Agenda and stressed that food security must be a national priority for all, regardless of profession.
“The Ministry of Agriculture has provided numerous grants to Liberian farmers with limited visible results. But with just 30% of a US$5,000 grant, KRTTI has achieved this impressive outcome,” she noted.
Addressing the delays in disbursing farming inputs under the ERPO project, Madam Tuah-Young attributed the setbacks to procurement bottlenecks that have hampered the timely execution of agricultural activities nationwide.
For his part, Mr. Clifford Konah, Jr., Assistant Minister for Teacher Education at the Ministry of Education, who expressed admiration for KRTTI’s agricultural work, calling it a direct contribution to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s ARREST Agenda in tackling food insecurity.
Assistant Minister Konah highlighted that the rice cultivation initiative aligns with the teacher training curriculum, particularly the “B” Certificate program under the Natural Science Department, which includes agriculture as a component.
“With this initiative at KRTTI, we are convinced that agriculture can be further integrated into teacher training curricula across all the Teacher Training Institutes (TTIs), including at the Early Childhood Development (ECD) level. Since agriculture is taught in our primary schools, our teachers must be adequately prepared to teach it effectively,” he stated.
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