MONROVIA, February 20 (LINA) - Smallholder farmers have in the past year increased their crop yields through technical support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
In collaboration with the War Affected Women Educational Empowerment Program (WAWEEP), USAID is working to improve food security in Liberia by promoting agriculture productivity and increasing the income of farmers.
According to a USAID press release issued here Friday, a visit to two of USAID’s Food and Enterprise Development (FED) rice farming clusters in Melekie and Bellemu in Bong County showed the increase.
The release said unlike the past when farmers could not grow enough rice to eat and sell on the local market, they are now selling their surplus to local rice processors and the World Food Program (WFP), increasing their incomes.
USAID worked with the farmers to improve field layouts, planting and irrigation techniques, fertilizer usage and provided the farmers with tools, improved seeds and business development skills.
WAWEEP is one of two local USAID-supported rice processors that have been contracted by WFP to mill nearly 375 metric tons of paddy rice to assist victims of the Ebola crisis and their families.
LINA