By Gareyson Y. Neufville
A prominent farmer in Pleebo District, Maryland County, has made a passionate appeal to the Liberian government to urgently strengthen support for cash crop farmers, warning that the sector is steadily declining despite growing demand for palm oil, cocoa, and other agricultural produce on local and regional markets.
Speaking to reporters during a tour of his plantation, Mr. Tomaul Y. Hoto said years of inadequate investment in smallholder farmers have left many struggling to sustain their farms, while persistent crop diseases and pest infestations continue to reduce yields across the region.
Mr. Hoto pointed to the Maryland Oil Palm Plantation (MOPP) and the Cavalla Rubber Corporation (CRC), two of the largest agricultural concessionaires in southeastern Liberia, noting that they have not been able to provide sufficient technical and logistical support to surrounding farming communities. He warned that without stronger collaboration among the government, concession companies, and smallholder farmers, the agricultural value chain in the southeast will remain weak.
He described the situation as discouraging, emphasizing that although Maryland County has vast and fertile land suitable for large-scale agriculture, farmers lack essential inputs needed to boost productivity and expand their plantations.
According to Mr. Hoto, access to financial assistance, fertilizers for palm and cocoa farms, modern farming tools, and reliable transportation remain the most urgent needs for farmers in the county.
“We have the land, we have the manpower, and we have the willingness to work,” he said. “But without government support, our effort is limited. The crops are there, but we don’t have fertilizer, chemicals, or equipment, and when harvest comes, transportation becomes a very big problem.”
Mr. Hoto disclosed that he recently joined a cooperative under the Maryland Oil Palm Farmers Union in hopes of benefiting from government-backed agricultural grants. As part of the process, he opened a bank account as instructed by cooperative leaders and implementing partners. However, he said no assistance has yet reached his group or other farmers.
He noted that the failure of promised support programs has caused many farmers to lose confidence, adding that dozens of smallholder farmers in Pleebo District are facing similar challenges.
Another major concern, Mr. Hoto explained, is the increasing spread of crop diseases affecting palm trees and cocoa plants, compounded by animal pests that frequently invade farms. These challenges, he said, have resulted in declining yields and mounting financial pressure on farmers already burdened by high production costs.
“Sometimes pests destroy the young palm seedlings before they even mature,” he said. “And during harvest season, transportation to Harper or other markets becomes the biggest challenge. That alone consumes almost everything we worked for.”
Mr. Hoto is now calling on the Ministry of Agriculture, donor agencies, and private sector partners to design targeted programs that will equip smallholder farmers with practical tools, timely inputs, and reliable market access.
He stressed that supporting farmers goes beyond improving individual livelihoods and is key to strengthening Maryland County’s contribution to Liberia’s agricultural economy.
“If the government wants to improve food security and reduce poverty, then farmers — especially those in the southeast — must be prioritized,” he said. “We are ready to produce, but we cannot do it alone.”
