30 June 2009
The moment long awaited, longed for, anticipated and cherished was at hand on Saturday, June 27, 2009 when hundreds of Liberians thronged the historic Ashmud Street for the official launch of this year's "Back to the Soil" Campaign sponsored by the government and the United Nations in collaboration with Cellcom Communications and CHICO while Ambassador Juli Endee's Liberia Crusaders for Peace is chairing the committee.
Students from private schools as well as the University of Liberia, ordinary Liberians from all walks of life, in their "Back to the Soil" t-shirts, paraded from the headquarters of Cellcom Communications thru Broad Street before converging on Ashmud Street between the new Central Bank of Liberia complex and the historic E.J. Roye Building where activities for the official launch were held.
Also leading the parade were officials of the Ministry of Agriculture represented by Acting Minister Boakai Sirleaf, Deputy Ministry Lorpu Kakdakai, UNMIL representatives and other stakeholders.
Most importantly myriad of locally produced crops were displayed on a carrier draped in the national colors of red, white and blue as well as the green color of the Agriculture Ministry.
Observers say the massive turnout of Liberians is an indication of their desire to work toward making their country self-sufficient in food production.
It was an awe-inspiring moment of musical outburst, featuring two of Liberia's youthful musical talents, last year and this year's winners of the "A Star is Born" competition as well as culturally displays led by the cultural troop of the Liberian Crusaders for Peace, As the sound from LCP band echoed across the city, more and more Liberians poured in their numbers to get the message of "going back to the soil."
"This is the moment we need seize to make our country great in food production," remarked a little boy who stood idly and watched the activities unfolded.
Thrilled by the melodies of the talented stars, bulk of the audience found it hard to remain grooved to the seats, but rushed on the stage in an apparent appreciation of the star's musical contributions and as a demonstration of their (audience) patriotism to a national cause.
Apart from the brilliant musical flaunting, the cultural and classical show of interest by Liberians evident by their presence, the goodness of nature also had a significant part to play in the process, as there were intermittent drizzles of rain interspersed with shadowy sun shine, which symbolized heavenly blessings of the program.
By the interference of nature, most of the participants were convinced that indeed Liberia was on the verge of scoring victory in one of the moments it longed for to engender food security and sufficiency. The official launch of the "Back to the Soil" campaign was done simultaneously across the country.
Reports monitored from rural Liberia say dozens of Liberians, most of whom farmers gathered at various selected venues to witness this year's Back to the Soil" campaign. It is not the first time Liberia has launched the back to the soil campaign since the seating of this government, even past governments, but the question is whether Liberians are stomaching the idea and are returning to the farms.
But as indicated earlier during the warning up stage of the campaign, the Liberian government is this time around not leaving unused any inch of the available opportunities to take the message of the importance of agriculture throughout the length and breadth of the country, to the thousands of farmers who working harder to make Liberia sufficient in food production.
Accordingly, the government through its agency responsible for agriculture is terming up with various groups in making sure that this year's "Back to the Soil" becomes reality. Institutions lined up to make the "Back to the soil" campaign include Cellcom Communications, the official sponsor, the World Food Program (WFP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), CHICO, UNMIL and the Liberia Crusaders for Peace.
Saturday's launch of the "Back to the Soil" campaign was occasioned by inspiring speeches from special invitees such as the Chairman of the National Traditional Council of Liberia, Zanzar Kawah, Grand Kru Representative Gbenemah Solopoh Doe, former Lone Star player, Kelvin Segbwe and many others.
In his remarks, chief Zanza Kawah told Liberians that farming was an important tool in the reconstruction drive, but in the same vein urged his countrymen to take note of whether conditions if they want to get results. He urged farmers and would-be farmers to begin their farming efforts in October and in March year taking into consideration weather conditions such the rainy and dry seasons.
Besides urging Liberians to know the timing for farming, he also wooed national leaders to support the efforts of farmers by ensuring that locally produced rice and imported rice are sold at the same amount. Kelvin Segbwe who was gowned by the National Council of Liberia for his contribution to Liberia also wooed his country men to return to the soil, because it is the only way Liberia can become self-sufficient in food production.
The "Back to the Soil" campaign was co-launched by the Deputy SRSG of UNMIL who pledged UNMIL's commitment to ensuring this year's initiative becomes successful.
"The United Nations Mission in Liberia is one of the successful in the world, not because of what we have done because you have helped us to make it successful," he said to the delight of the crowd, and added "it is important to go back to the soil."
"it is important to grow what we eat, so we are totally behind you as you go thru this endeavor."
Vice President Joesph Boakai who was to launch the program was not present, but his proxy also articulated the significance of the soil, and urged Liberians to take advantage of the program. Grand Kru County Representative Gbenemah Solopoh Doe called on Liberians to take farming serious, saying "this is not time for big political speeches; it is about time that we all engage into farming," he said.
An all-star mind-moving "back to the soil" song led by the LCP was an added flavor of the campaign with top Liberian musicians singing in their dialects highlighting the message of the "Back to the soil" campaign. There were other captivating moments such performances by students and giving out of gifts to deserving winners by Ambassador Juli Endee.
Dozens of trainers, peer groups and monitors under the guidance of the LCP are presently in the rural parts of the country to spread the message.
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