Farmers receive US$56K power machines to boost rice production
Kakata, Margibi – As part of efforts to improve rice production and ensure food security in Liberia, the Association of Evangelicals of Liberia (AEL), a not-for-profit organization recently donated a combined value of US$56,000 farming equipment and a multipurpose storage facility to farmers in Gibi and Kakata districts of Margibi county.
The equipment includes four rice milling machines, four power tilling machines, and four thrashers.
The Project Supervisor of AEL, Bobby Konata, who presented the equipment to the farmers, said that the donation is part of efforts directed to reducing the workload of farmers in the county.
He disclosed that the donation is part of AEL ongoing Liberia Ebola Recovery project, which focuses on promoting access to resources to affected Ebola communities. The project is funded by Jersey through Tearfund.
Commenting further, Konata urged farmers to use the equipment efficiently. He urged farmers from the two districts to collaborate to maintain the equipment his institution has given.
‘’In time past, NGOs donated to communities, but the beneficiaries failed to maintain some of those projects.”
“It is time for us Liberians to put aside this mentally by thinking that it is NGO project so it is free money,” he said.
For their part, the local farmers lauded the AEL for the donation. The farmers described the donation as timely, especially at the time when they needed help the most.
Some farmers recounted the AEL support during the Ebola crisis when their wives and children were trained in basic life skills including tailoring, soap making, tie and dye among others.
The Association of Evangelicals of Liberia (AEL) is the largest network of churches and agencies of Evangelical persuasion in Liberia responding to human need with spiritual guidance, compassion, and practical care. Our vision is a Liberian Church that is faithful to God’s calling to love as Christ loves – evidenced by its practical, holistic & compassionate response to human need.
