A member of the 55th House of Representatives has accused the Ministry of Agriculture of channeling public funds to cooperatives allegedly linked to government officials, rather than adequately supporting local farmers and expanding domestic food production.
Rep. Kortor Kwagrue made the allegation in a statement criticizing the Ministry’s management of agricultural funding and raising concerns about the government’s efforts to achieve food security.
Kwagrue questioned why substantial resources continue to be allocated to the Ministry while Liberia struggles to produce enough food to meet domestic demand.
He alleged that some officials prioritize cooperatives in which they have personal interests, rather than investing in farming initiatives that directly benefit ordinary Liberians.
To illustrate his concerns, the lawmaker said he invested L$1.3 million, equivalent to less than US$10,000, in local women’s farming groups in his district. According to him, the investment has resulted in flourishing farms.
Kwagrue argued that a similar project implemented by the Ministry could have cost taxpayers more than US$100,000, although he did not provide supporting documentation for the comparison.
He also credited independent local farmers with supplying markets with staple foods, including cassava, plantains, bananas, potatoes and yams, while questioning whether these farmers receive adequate government support compared with subsidized cooperatives.
“Are we saying our hardworking local farmers do not deserve government support just as much as minister-backed cooperatives?” Kwagrue asked.
The lawmaker said he would submit an official communication to the Legislature seeking to summon the Minister of Agriculture to provide a comprehensive list of all cooperatives that have received public funding.
He said the proposed legislative action would enable lawmakers to exercise their oversight responsibilities, inspect the farms and determine whether public resources are being used for their intended purposes.
Kwagrue maintained that his planned action was driven by his responsibility to represent the Liberian people, rather than protect government officials from scrutiny.
