Sowing Success on 23.5 Acres: Liberia’s Women Farmers Lead the Way

By Nukanah Kollie

The Future Farmers of Liberia Empowerment for Women is leading the way for self-sufficiency in food production in Central Liberia. Established in 2019, the group’s initiative places women at the forefront of agricultural innovation and rural development, while promoting economic empowerment and strengthening community resilience.

The Journey of Future Farmers of Liberia Empowerment for Women

General Manager Matthew Q. Kollie explains that the initiative began with a group of young graduates determined to translate their knowledge into practical impact.

“It all started with Nupolu, a friend, who gathered his colleagues in 2019 to register the organization, and by 2020, we secured this 23.5-acre farmland in Bong,” Kollie recalled.

Initially founded in Lofa County, the project relocated due to land conflict and eventually settled near Tucker Gate on the outskirts of Gbarnga, Bong County. Today, it employs 15 permanent staff and engages dozens of volunteers and daily women workers. In just four years, the farm has developed into a vibrant hub: maize drying in warehouses, vegetables growing in cleared fields, and fish ponds enhancing food security.

Kollie emphasized that the farm is more than a production site—it is also a training and innovation center.

“We want this place to serve as a learning space for young Liberians who want to take agriculture seriously,” he said, noting that many workers are college graduates.

In addition to farming, the organization offers business training for rural women and market traders, along with small loans to support household income.

“What we earn here goes toward paying our staff and also supporting women in petty trade,” Kollie added.

“Agriculture is the Bedrock” — Patricia M. Mulbah

On the fields, Patricia M. Mulbah, a technician and graduate of Cuttington University College of Agriculture and Sustainable Development, supervises vegetable planting-often reflecting on their journey.

“Agriculture is the bedrock of every nation. It is the foundation of food security,” she said. “Here at Future Farmers, corn is our primary crop, but we also grow pepper, radish, okra, greens, and we are expanding into fish farming and watermelon.”

Mulbah highlighted their key achievement: inspiring young people to view agriculture as a viable career path. “It is better to start small in agriculture. This is where opportunities grow. I want to encourage graduates and even high school leavers to enter the field rather than wait for big office jobs,” she urged.

However, challenges remain.

“We need power tillers, tractors, even yellow machines. We are working hard, but we cannot do it all alone. With more support, we can expand across Liberia, beyond Bong to Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Sinoe, and other counties.”

Women on the Frontline of Empowerment

The strongest symbol of the farm’s success is the women who work in the fields every day. From weeding to harvesting, their income supports children’s education and sustains households.

Annie Sackie – Voice of a Pregnant Daily Worker

Among the women weeding the fields was a five-month pregnant worker, bent over the grass with a hoe. Despite her condition, she said the farm remains her only source of livelihood.

“I come here every day to work so I can support my children in school,” she explained. “The money I earn is small, but it helps me buy food and pay their fees. Even though I am pregnant, I cannot stay at home—this work is what we depend on.”

Her determination highlights the critical role women play on the farm, even under difficult circumstances, and underscores the need for additional support to ease their burden.

Mary Flomo, another worker, added:

“The money we earn here helps send our children to school. That is why we keep working hard.”

Others, like Mulbah, expressed similar motivation:

“Most of us are volunteers, but we are encouraged because this farm helps us survive. What we need now is support so we can produce more.”

These women are not just laborers—they are the backbone of the enterprise, showing that when agriculture prioritizes women’s empowerment, entire communities’ benefit.

Progress, Challenges, and an Appeal for Support

The accomplishments of the Future Farmers of Liberia Empowerment for Women—including expanding production, empowering rural women, and training youth—are significant. The farm has also adopted climate-smart practices, such as water management in fish ponds and diversified crop planting to reduce risks from droughts or floods. Additionally, it is building connections with local markets to ensure steady sales, further supporting household income and community nutrition.

Yet challenges persist, from broken power tillers to lack of mechanized equipment and the wider impacts of climate change.

Kollie made a direct appeal:

“Some people claim to manage 30 acres, but when you visit, there is nothing there. At Future Farmers, you can see results with your own eyes. We are asking for support to expand and mechanize.”

Mulbah echoed the call, emphasizing that with more investment, the model could be replicated nationwide, reaching even more communities.

Recognition and Community Impact

The farm has begun attracting attention from government agencies and NGOs, establishing it as a model for women-led agricultural development. Its combination of training, production, and empowerment demonstrates how agribusiness can simultaneously achieve economic and social goals.

In Liberia and across much of Africa, women have long served as the backbone of agricultural activities. Their work in the fields, markets, and households sustains families and communities, ensuring food security and supporting rural livelihoods.

Yet, despite their critical contributions, their efforts are often undervalued. According to Liberia’s Ministry of Agriculture, women produce more than 60% of the nation’s agricultural output, largely through subsistence farming and small-scale trading (MOA, 2021).

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, the FAO estimates that women make up half of the agricultural workforce, while globally, their contribution reaches 43% (FAO, 2020). Despite playing such a pivotal role, women continue to face numerous challenges, including limited access to land, credit, mechanization, and training opportunities.

Sowing Hope for Liberia’s Future

Despite the challenges, the determination of this institution remains unwavering. With women at its core, the Future Farmers of Liberia Empowerment for Women proves that Liberia’s greatest hope lies in its soil and in the hands of those who cultivate it.