By: Peter Kollie | Rural Reporter News Network
Konai Town, Zorzor District —November 5, 2025—The Darbodakei Farmers’ Cooperative Society, based in Konai Town, Zorzor Administrative District, has become a shining example of community resilience and unity in post-war Liberia. Formed by a group of smallholder farmers in 2016, the cooperative was established to pool resources, strengthen farmers’ bargaining power, and improve their economic standing.
According to the manager of the cooperative, Mr. Jerry Weegie, the idea to form the organization was born shortly after the Liberian civil war. He said that when residents returned home, they saw the need to work together to rebuild their livelihoods. “Things were very difficult for our people after the war. Everyone was doing things individually. So, we decided to come together as farmers so that our produce could have more value and weight on the market,” Mr. Weegie explained.
The cooperative was officially certified in 2017 and has since been operating actively. Mr. Weegie revealed that the initiative’s vision bearer was Hon. Galakpai W. Kortimai, now serving as the Director-General of the General Services Agency (GSA). “He was the dream bearer of this cooperative. Others later joined and supported the idea,” he added.
Mr. Weegie noted that members benefit from working collectively, sharing profits, and supporting one another through dividends distributed from sales. “We sell our produce together and share the proceeds equally. That’s how the cooperative has been working,” he said.
He emphasized that cooperation has helped farmers realize the power of unity. “When you work together, you have more strength and can achieve more than when you work alone. We came together to seek each other’s interest,” he stressed.
However, the formation of the cooperative was not without challenges. Mr. Weegie disclosed that convincing people to work together was one of their major hurdles at the time of formation. “Getting people to understand the importance of teamwork was difficult at first, but through constant engagement, about 250 men and women eventually came together to form the cooperative,” he recounted.
Speaking on their farming activities, Mr. Weegie said the cooperative initially focused on vegetable farming—growing pepper, bitter ball, and okra—and later expanded to peanut processing, producing peanut butter as their first major product. “Today, we have diversified into tree crops such as cocoa, oil palm, coffee, butter pear, and oranges,” he said.
He also praised the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for supporting their training programs. “IFAD has helped to train some of our members, and we intend to do even more capacity building in the future,” he noted.
Regarding membership, Mr. Weegie explained that any Liberian citizen aged 18 and above—male or female—is eligible to join. Interested persons fill out a membership form, which is reviewed by the cooperative’s membership committee. Once approved, the new member is certified and required to buy shares in the cooperative.
Mr. Weegie concluded by calling on young people across Lofa County to take advantage of such opportunities. “We want to encourage the youth to join farmer cooperatives because it will help them secure a better future,” he urged.
Farmer cooperatives across Liberia play a crucial role in improving food security, empowering rural communities, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. By joining forces, smallholder farmers are able to access better markets, receive training, share resources, and improve their income. Cooperatives like the Darbodakei Farmers’ Cooperative Society are helping to rebuild local economies and foster unity in communities that were once divided by war.
