Veteran agriculturist, Ojodogbo Z. Whorway, has sharply criticized sitting Representative Ivar K. Jones over what he describes as a poorly thought-out agricultural supply initiative.
Speaking to Verity News, Whorway acknowledged and appreciated Rep. Jones’ efforts in distributing garden tools to local gardeners in District Two. However, he argued that the form and manner in which the distribution was carried out undermined its effectiveness.
“A single cutlass isn’t an agriculture supply,” Whorway said, referring to what he termed the random and incomplete manner of the tool distribution. “This is how it was done: one person was given a hoe, another a cutlass, another a shovel. How will the person with the cutlass plow the soil without a hoe, rake, and shovel?”
Whorway, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from the William R. Tolbert, Jr. College of Agriculture and Forestry, emphasized that effective gardening requires a full set of tools. He recommended that each gardener be equipped with a complete set including a hoe, cutlass, rake, shovel, bastard file, garden fork, watering can, spray tank, axe, digger, and a measuring line.
He further accused Rep. Jones of being more interested in the publicity surrounding the gesture than in making a real impact. “I believe his intention is publicity—that he gave many people garden tools. But agriculture should not be based on trials and errors. Agricultural science is scientific and should be treated as such,” he said.
Whorway, who has over three decades of experience in plantation crop management, including at Firestone Liberia, also used the opportunity to call on the Liberian government and donors to focus on quality over quantity in agricultural support.
“It is better to provide adequate funds and the right tools to a few farmers for better results than to spread limited resources too thin,” he added.
In a broader policy recommendation, Whorway called for the establishment of farming communities in each district. He proposed that each farming community should cover at least 300 acres and be staffed with 20 to 30 workers, producing crops recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture. He claimed this model would be more cost-effective than operating urban high schools.
“Let the Liberian government try this new idea. Operating a farming community costs less than running a senior high school. The Ministry of Agriculture must take the courage to implement this,” he urged.
When contacted, the office of Representative Ivar Jones admitted to the “one person, one cutlass” gesture, tying it to the goal of exhausting everyone who was part of the process.
Whorway’s remarks have sparked conversations among constituents about the effectiveness of agricultural interventions and the role of lawmakers in promoting sustainable food production.
Rep. Jones has not issued a personal response to the criticism.
