Africa-Press – Liberia. The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and its partners have unveiled a new mechanization service center at the Central Agriculture Research Institute (CARI) in Suakoko, Bong County, with the aim of increasing productivity in the country’s agricultural sector.
The new center, which has been equipped with a range of farming machinery, will offer repair services for farmers’ equipment. It is expected to play a key role in improving agricultural productivity in Liberia, leading to enhanced food security and economic development.
According to the Agriculture Minister, Jeanine Cooper, the decision to rehabilitate and re-equip the CARI mechanization center was prompted by the Ministry’s observation that much of the mechanized equipment previously donated to farmers had become unusable due to the lack of proper service centers and spare parts for repairs.
The new center, Cooper noted, therefore aims to address this issue and provide farmers with a reliable resource for repairing their equipment.
“The rehabilitation and re-equipment of the CARI mechanization center will provide farmers in the county with access to high-quality machine repair services,” Cooper said. “This is a significant step forward in improving agricultural productivity in Liberia and reducing the costs associated with repairing farming equipment.”
“The center will be a crucial resource for farmers, who have previously struggled with the lack of proper service centers and spare parts.
Meanwhile, CARI Director General, Dr. Victor Sumo, has pledged that his administration would ensure that farmers could make the most of the center’s resources.
Sumo noted that the dedicated repair center for mechanized equipment is vital for enhancing productivity while reducing the costs and physical labor associated with cultivation.
“It also helps improve the efficiency of other inputs, as well as the safety and comfort of agricultural workers. Ultimately, mechanization can lead to improvements in the quality and value addition of agricultural produce,” he said.
Meanwhile, the rehabilitation and re-equipment of the CARI mechanization center was carried out under the MOA Smallholder Agriculture Development for Food and Nutrition Security (SADFONS) project.
The event was attended by distinguished guests, including Africa Rice County Representative Dr. Akintayo Inussa and World Bank Senior Agriculture Economist Dr. Adetunji Oredipe, both of whom expressed their satisfaction with the rehabilitation of the center and highlighted the importance of sustainable agriculture development in Liberia.
The farmers who attended the ceremony were also grateful for the new center, which they saw as an important resource for their agricultural activities.
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