Urging Liberians and her government officials to go back to the soil and grow their own food-rice, the nation's staple-President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has cut the first panicles of rice in her backyard farm in Monrovia.
The Liberian leader, leading by example, urged Liberians to utilize vacant land in their surroundings to plant rice, fruits, vegetables and other crops for food self-sufficiency.
"Everyone should use spare land to plant something," the President declared Tuesday as she walked from her Residence to cut the first panicles of rice that had been growing in a plot adjoining her residence in Sinkor, on the outskirts of Monrovia.
Dressed in blue jeans, a red T-shirt, a red, white and blue cap and rain boots, the President was joined by some 50 persons, mostly women, who worked with great speed and expertise, the Executive Mansion said.
Three groups of women were mobilized for the harvest: traditional women; women from the community; and 10 female students from the University of Liberia's Agriculture Women Cooperative, based at Fendell, which also works in collaboration with rural women in that area.
Questioned by reporters about the size of the rice farm, the President clarified that she had only made good use of an empty lot near her home, and that she has a farm in Bomi County where a variety of crops are grown.
Representing the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) were: Mr. Richelieu Mitchell, Acting Deputy Minister for the Department of Regional Development, Research and Extension; Mr. Paul Jallah, Director of Extension; Mr. Mulbah Bryant, County Agricultural Coordinator for Montserrado County; Mr. G. Momoh Tulay, Registrar General of the Cooperative Development Agency; and others.
Commenting on the project, Acting Deputy Minister Mitchell observed that if owners of swampland properties could be encouraged to use such land for agriculture, there would be enough land to feed the population of the area with rice.
President Johnson Sirleaf took advantage of a vacant lot adjoining her property to plant Narica L19 (lowland or swamp) rice on 4 ½ plots measuring 20 x 20 meters.
The rice harvested Tuesday was transplanted from a nursery on 16 July.
It is expected to yield more than 1,900 pounds of rice. After the harvest, the land will be used to plant vegetables, followed by more rice in March and again in June/July.
Bundles of rice harvested have been placed on a nearby scaffold for the initial one-week drying period.
The rice will then be transferred to a permanent drying slab at the former Liberia Sugar Company site in Gardnersville. When thoroughly dried, the rice will be milled and bagged, to be served later on the President's table.
Rice from the next harvest will be used as seeds and distributed to other farmers.
Tuesday's harvest on the pilot rice project is the second by the President since it was introduced more than two years ago with the assistance of Chinese agricultural experts.
In another development, President Sirleaf has received a delegation sent by President Mamadou Tandja of Niger on a special mission.
During closed door discussions Tuesday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the head of the delegation Prime Minister Sem Ali Badjo Gamatie, delivered a special message on behalf of the Nigerien President.
Speaking later during remarks, President Johnson Sirleaf asked Prime Minister Gamatie to convey to President Tandja warm regards, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia.
The Liberian leader spoke of the need for another meeting to discuss the political situation in Niger. The delegation from Niger has already left the country.
Comments 1 to 3 of 3 Post a comment
Indeed the greening of the urban areas on the surface seem like a great thing... But it covers the problem beneath... We need to stop playing around in Monrovia and get serious about what happens up country! These people need to somehow get out of the urban areas and make there way back home; for their health and the health of the nation. Go back to the soil, yes, just not so much city soil.
Does Ellen thinks she can feed her citizenry with her backyard rice farm? If the best the president of Liberia can contribute toward to food self-sufficiency is backward rice farm,what does she ecpect her impoverished citizens to do? A good leader must lead by good example. Ellen backyard farm fall short of being a good example to the country.
Woe unto you ellen, you call urself president of the people nation(LIBERIA)what have you realized since you got in power by all mean as president?? shame on you once more ellen i thaught you could changed something as regarding to the issued of (GETTEN BACK to the SOIL).do you remember what you poeple told the late president DOE while introducting the GETTEN BACK TO THE SOIL SYSTEM? I suprise at you ellen, i cant believed your action and poor performance in liberia at presence, i mean you offer the liberian high impression with out effort,woe unto you. I expect you to make the difference by now in liberia.iam so shame of you, I know that you dont even have a political sub_division in liberia commonly known as county, otherwise this example or demostration would been carry on in ur county instate of backyard. my fear is i dont want you to die in power, from presure. because you are too OLD enough to be a woman croak. you lie too dam much to the people. went will you changed??? Well, im quite sure that you are trying to get bact the money that used to destroyed our land liberty, but i want to asure you today with out fear, that if think you are cat in town remenber that there is a tiger in the bush. Be very careful, i mean just leave the people country along for God sake or else you find it very difficult if you want to vote again as president. please leave our land and start prepareing yourself for the international court of justic. thanks....OMELL, los angele U S A