Speaking to the Liberia News Agency at the launching ceremony on the Compound of the Central Agriculture Research Institute in Suakoko District recently, BRAC Senior Manager Emanur Shikder said the program is intended to support the poor and food-nutrition insecure to react to crises and strengthen resilience in the country between October 2016 and September 2018.

Mr. Shikder said it will also improve the food and nutrition security situation of vulnerable population groups, adding that the plan for capacity-building is intended to achieve a resilient and sustainable production and access to food in the country.

BRAC was established in Liberia in 2008 to help 360 most vulnerable households engaged in cash for work, while 1,625 “poor” will receive training in poultry and livestock rearing, and the capacities of 5,200 smallholder farmers will be built on climate smart agriculture technologies, the Program Manager said.

Mr. Shikder revealed that the US$1.5 million project funded by the European Union will be implemented in Bomi, Margibi, Cape Mount, Montserrado, Bong and Grand Bassa Counties with a target number of 7,501 households and 38,255 people as beneficiaries.

Also speaking at the launching ceremony, Bong County Agriculture Coordinator Monica Honoree lauded BRAC and described the project as an opportunity for farmers in the targeted counties.

Madam Honoree recommended to BRAC to closely work with the Ministry of Agriculture local offices in the selected counties to identify farmers to benefit from the program, and pledged the government’s fullest support to the success of the program.

Honoree said her team is closely working with various organizations involved in the sector development to enhance farmers’ production capacity in Bong County, and called on farmers in the county to attach seriousness to project.

The two-year Food and Nutrition Support Program is in furtherance of BRAC’s support to the Liberian Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy and food security agenda. A similar program was launched in Grand Bassa County recently.