For quite a while, Liberia’s drive for self-sufficiency in food production however critical to national development and stability is largely characterized by mere slogans and theories. The citizenry continues to eat mostly what it does not produce despite the country’s blessed soil and favorable climate. As The Analyst reports, the Cooperative Development Agency, which is the Liberian farmers’ first friend, is putting aside the theories in Monrovia and is venturing into the countryside to see firsthand how farmers are faring and what tangible can be done to make food security a practical and achievable endeavor in Liberia.
The Cooperative Development Agency (CDA) has begun tour of northern Liberia precisely Lofa County. According to reports, the Acting CDA Registrar General Regina Sokan Teah Williams and team have embarked on a tour to assess cooperative development projects in about four counties. The cooperative developmental tour was intended to visit farmers in rural Liberia to assess and certificate various accredited multipurpose cooperative institutions.
The reports indicated that some of the activities on the tour in Lofa County were the awarding of certificates to three newly form agriculture cooperatives in Kolba City, Kolahun District, Lofa County and the CDA team also met with a group of cooperative societies in Foyah District.
The CDA is under statutory mandate by the Government of Liberia to facilitate the organization of farmers & non farmers based organizations, including women & youth groups into viable cooperative societies throughout the Republic of Liberia; registers & issue certificate, regulates and supervises the activities of all registered cooperative societies including cooperative apex organizations; provides technical expertise training, audit or cause to audit the financial records of cooperative societies at least once a year to ensure human resource development and economic growth; and settles disputes among cooperative societies & their members regarding their activities to ensure peaceful co-existence.
The cooperative developmental initiative agenda to the locals in rural Liberia under the indomitable leadership of Regina Sokan Teah Williams, and executive staffs of the Cooperative Development Agency also continued the county assessment tour in Cape Mount and Nimba counties to achieve similar goal intended to improve the wellbeing of farmers.
“This mission is a cleared manifestation of the CDA commitment in promoting farmers and other industrious cooperatives in our society… CDA is ready to make Liberia self-sufficient in food productions”, said CDA Director Regina Sokan Teah Williams.
During the tour, the Registrar Director General of CDA met rural Liberian women that are engaged in major agricultural productivities which include the building up of cooperative societies across the geographical belt of Liberia.
“This platform which is intended for farmers to be prepared to massively feed Liberians by 2020 will succeed. The Pro Poor Agenda will be achieved”, said CDA Director Regina Sokan Teah Williams.
The CDA team also met with Ngoyelangee Farmer’s Cooperative Society, Wologizzie Women multipurpose cooperative society, in Kolahun, Lofa County respectively.
The CDA is currently operating in 11- Counties of Liberia: Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, Montserrado, Margibi, Bong, Grand Bassa, Rivercess, Lofa, Nimba, and Grand Gedeh counties. CDA currently has county offices in 6-Counties: Bomi, Grand Bassa, Bong, Nimba, and Grand Gedeh with headquarters in Montserrado.
CDA’s current engagement is in support of Government’s Agenda: This includes a Nationwide Cooperative Awareness through field visitations to provide cooperative information to all stakeholders including local communities inhabitants, government officials, development partners, women and youth groups; Re-activation of dormant cooperative societies and formation of new ones through the awarding of cooperative permits and certificates to support government development plans; Auditing of Cooperative financial records to ensure financial accountability and transparency among their members; Settlement of disputes to ensure peaceful co-existence and rule of law among cooperative members and other local authorities the report states.
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