Grace-Land, Tonwin Nimba County Liberia: – Research has proven that the world consumption for cocoa is estimated at 2 800 000 tons per year. The largest cocoa importers are Europe (more than 1.2 million tons per year) and the United States (0.4 million tons per year).
The world’s average chocolate consumption amounts to an estimated 0.9 kilograms per capita per year. European countries show significantly higher averages. The largest chocolate consumers in the world are the Germans with a per capita consumption of 11 kilograms per year.
Cocoa is of significant economic importance both for producing and consuming countries. It generates export revenues, income and employment. Cocoa is an important ingredient in the confectionery of food, beverage industries and many more including the pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industries.
Speaking during the week to The Founder of Grand-Land Darwon Nuhn, here’s what he explained to this paper.
‘’We are certainly happy and highly appreciate your paper to see our commitment in making Liberia beginning with Nimba in the coming years food sufficient and by extension there will be growth productivity. As you may be aware we are all trying to implement The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and the very first goal says, “No Poverty” than Goal #2 says, “Zero Hunger”. It is incumbent on you and me and everyone else who wants to see developing countries like ours be at least close to developed countries most choose any of the 17 global goals in helping to implement which we at Grace-Land have already chosen two(2) and may be more than two because they are interconnected for growth. Our goals at Grand-Land are but not limited to:
- Expansion and Extension
- Food Security
- Empowerment
- Community Social Responsibility
- Manufacture some finished Products of Cocoa
- Become a Brand Name in Liberia.
Under Extension:
Grace-Land Farm currently sits on 325 acres of land in Blinlon Administrative District Yarwin Mehnsonnoh Statutory District Liberia West Africa of which, approximately 200 acres have been cultivated with Rice, Plantains and Cocoa. By 2026, we hope to acquire additional land to extend to one thousand acres of Cocoa.
Expansion:
Grace-Land Farm is all about Food Security; growing what we eat, and eating what we grow that is a booster to our economy. This is why Grace-Land Farm starting 2024 will invest into animal husbandry including our activities. We have already acquired 50 acres of land in the Tordee Montserrado County for said purpose. We will also invest heavily in rice production in the near foreseeable future.
Empowerment:
By 2024 we will scale up our employment to one thousand or more employees, contractors and daily hires in line with the Liberia Decent Work Bill.
The community we currently working is very remote, we are therefore thinking about firstly prioritizing health by building a clinic soon and subsequently follow by others development. We are very happy and look forward to working with the locals to create a cohesive cordial relationship.
Manufacturing:
We are about branding our name. As a country, we consumed many finished products from other countries. We need to produce finishing consumable products right here in Nimba and Liberia large. We want to be one of the leaders in the Made in Liberia campaigns. This is why we are working harder to launch our Cocoa Processing Plant by the end of 2023 in Blinlon Administrative District Nimba County Liberia. The objective is to produce our own chocolate bar. So again we are pleased and honor to the team of professionals at Grace-Land including our emerging farmers in training for all their commitments. Dickson Nuhn the Farm Manager and his co-workers are wonderful team on the ground making sure that we provide one of the best services in that part of the Country in the coming years.”
According to USAID Liberia Fact Sheet on Food Security, Liberia ranked 110 of 116 countries on hunger conditions. According to the released, even before the Ukraine-Russia conflict impacted global commodity prices, food security conditions had worsened due to COVID-19, climate change impacts and high post-harvest losses. The 2021 Global Hunger Index classifies Liberia’s level of hunger as ‘serious.
By: Edmund C. Gbarwee
Public Health Reporter
The One Nimba House Media Inc (Nimba D-9 TV)
