High sea fish farmers in Grand Cess, Grand Kru County last month received a brand new ice flake making machine and one 10kva generator intended to improve storage, processing, and commercialization of fish products. The aim is to assist artisanal fisher folks in producing quality fish, increase sales, and improve livelihoods. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Government of Liberia (GoL) in July 2012 procured and installed the new equipment.

The building housing the equipment was built in 2010 and dedicated by President Ellen Jonson-Sirleaf in May 2011. It was constructed by FAO and GoL under the Food Security through Commercialization of Agriculture Project funded by the Italian Government. FAO in 2009 increased support to the Grand Cess fisher folks group, the Good Father Fishery Based Organization, who are the facility's first line end users.

When the equipment were installed and tested, the little City of Grand Cess reverberated with echoes of joy and happiness that culminated into a communal celebration amongst fisher men, fish mongers, and citizens of Grand Kru.

FSCA National Project Coordinator Augustine Laveleh urged the beneficiaries to maximize the use of the facility: "Work together as a team; use this equipment well and you will be counted among modern fishing communities of our time," he further urged.

FAO in conjunction with GoL has constructed four of such technology platforms, two in Montserrado County and two in Grand Kru. The platforms in Banjor, Montserrado County, and Grand Cess, Grand Kru County have been equipped and are ready for use while the one in King Gray, Montserrado County, and the unit in Sasstown, Grand Kru, are yet to be equipped due to budgetary constraints.

The 10kva generator was procured with support from DANIDA while the ice flake making machine was procured by the FSCA Project.