Agriculture leaders across Liberia have pledged to champion gender equality in farming by integrating gender-responsive practices into agricultural activities.
This commitment comes as over 40 county and district agriculture coordinators concluded a two-day training to equip them with the skills to promote inclusivity and empower women farmers nationwide.
The workshop, held from January 7-8 in Ganta City, Nimba County, was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection. It forms part of the Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP), a $44.6 million initiative funded by the World Bank and focused on fostering gender equality through strengthened public institutions.
Participants included agriculture extension officers, technicians, and experts from the Gender Social Inclusion Unit. The training provided practical tools for enhancing gender-responsive agriculture extension services, emphasizing addressing the specific challenges women farmers face.
“This training is timely and appreciated,” said A. Key Sumo, Agriculture Coordinator for Gbarpolu County. He emphasized the importance of implementing gender-sensitive farming tools and vowed to share the knowledge with rural farmers in hard-to-reach areas. “Promoting gender balance in agriculture will boost productivity and ensure inclusivity,” Sumo added.
For many participants, the training was transformative. “We learned that gender is not just about people but also about changing perspectives and approaches,” said Grand Gedeh County Agriculture Coordinator Madam Nounou Sharty. She noted that these insights would help address gender-related challenges in interactions with rural women.
The coordinators also issued recommendations to improve agriculture practices. Madam Famatta J. Kamara of Grand Cape Mount County called for increased government support to help farmers transition from subsistence to commercial farming. She stressed the need for modern machinery and financial resources, particularly in remote areas.
Bomi County Agriculture Coordinator Samuel C. Smith underscored the importance of extending similar training programs to farmers themselves. “Women need to play significant roles in agricultural decision-making, and these new ideas will help achieve that,” he said.
Madam Keturah K. T. Woods, Director of the Gender, Social, and Inclusion Unit at the Ministry of Agriculture, praised participants for their dedication. She highlighted plans to develop monitoring systems to assess the impact of gender-responsive services on smallholder farmers, especially women.
“This initiative ensures that the unique roles and challenges of male and female farmers, including those with special needs, are addressed effectively,” Woods said.
Jesse James, Program Officer for the Ministry of Gender’s Women Empowerment Division, emphasized that the training aligns with the LWEP’s objectives. He encouraged participants to apply their new skills to create meaningful change.
The LWEP targets over 267,000 people across six counties: River Cess, Grand Gedeh, Gbarpolu, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, and Rural Montserrado. It offers grants to support various agricultural activities, including individual enterprises, livelihood groups, and farmer-based organizations.
