By: Edmund C. Gbarwee, Nimba D-9 TV Public Health Reporter-nimbad9tv2018@gmail.com +231778070604

Kwendin Nimba County, Liberia: In the heart of Nimba County Electoral District 9 lies the once-famous Kwendin Vocational Training Center (KVTC). This landmark symbolized hope and skills development for rural youth. Today, it stands in ruins, a sad reminder of Liberia’s 22-year civil war, which claimed over 250,000 lives and shattered the nation’s infrastructure, agriculture, education, and economy.

But amid the ruins, a new story is unfolding. Rev. N. Pehmie Freeman Sr., founder of the Pehmie Agro-Cattle Embassy (PACE) Enterprise Inc., is transforming Kwendin into a center of agricultural development, laying the foundation for a sustainable agro-economic value chain that is already improving lives.

A Pastor’s Vision for Economic Renewal

Rev. Freeman, who also serves as Assistant Pastor at the Assembly of God Church in Ganta, hails from Kwendin and carries a personal passion for restoring his community.

Speaking to Nimba D-9 TV during an exclusive farm visit, the first media team invited, he shared his excitement:

“I am grateful to God for this opportunity. At PACE, our mission is to drive economic growth and empowerment for Kwendin and beyond. Since starting, we have raised cattle, pigs, palm, rice, and other crops, creating jobs for local people who are now able to provide for their families.”

The Value Chain: From Farm to Market

Agriculture employs more than 60% of Liberians, yet the sector has long suffered from limited investment, outdated tools, and poor market access. PACE is changing that narrative by building a local agro-value chain that links production to processing and markets:

• Cattle & Pig Farming-Supplying meat markets to the community and beyond
• Palm Plantations-Producing palm oil, a vital household and commercial commodity.
• Rice Cultivation- Reducing dependence on costly rice imports (Liberia spends over $200M annually on rice imports).
• Vegetables & Other Crops-Fresh food for households and market vendors.

This integrated approach not only provides organic, homegrown food but also creates jobs, boosts household incomes, and promotes rural resilience.

Investment & Early Support

The farm has already attracted some recognition. During the dedication of a farmers’ warehouse in Kwendin, Liberia’s Agriculture Team provided LRD $50,000 to support PACE’s efforts.

However, Rev. Freeman is clear about the need for greater investment:

• Processing Equipment-To minimize post-harvest losses and add value.
• Training & Extension Services-To transfer modern techniques to rural farmers.
• Market Linkages -To connect smallholder farmers to buyers in Monrovia and across borders.

With these, PACE envisions scaling production to serve national and regional markets.

Empowering Youth & Women

One of the most striking impacts of PACE’s initiative is on youth and women’s empowerment:

• Young people, once jobless or migrating to cities, are finding work as farmhands, technicians, and small-scale producers.
• Women are gaining opportunities in palm oil processing, vegetable farming, and local market sales.
• Families now have stable income streams, enabling them to send children to school and access healthcare.

This shift is slowly breaking the cycle of rural poverty while giving Kwendin’s youth a reason to stay, work, and build at home.

A District-Wide Agro Movement

PACE’s efforts reflect a broader movement sweeping across Nimba District 9:

• In Sahnpa, a massive swamp rice project is underway, tapping into Liberia’s fertile wetlands.
• In Tonwin, Blinlon, Grace Land Agro-Enterprise is expanding production and creating jobs.
• Across Gbi & Doru, Doe, and other towns, agro-entrepreneurs are making bold investments in livestock and crops.

Nimba D-9 TV’s independent assessment suggests that within the next two years, Nimba District 9 could emerge as a major agro-economic hub in Liberia.

Nimba County Electoral District 9 Representative Taa Z. Wongbe has always encouraged citizens to return home and invest in their communities as a way of helping to build the district.

Alignment with National Goals

These community-driven initiatives directly align with President Joseph N. Boakai Sr.’s ARREST Agenda, where “A” stands for Agriculture. The President envisions a food-sufficient Liberia, reducing imports and creating wealth through farming.

PACE and similar enterprises embody this vision by proving that organic, locally produced food can power Liberia’s economic future.

A Call for Support

As Rev. Freeman concludes:

“We are prepared to provide real organic food for Liberia. But we cannot do it alone. We call on the Ministry of Agriculture, development partners, and private investors to support us. With the right help, Kwendin will rise again—not as a ruin of war, but as a beacon of prosperity.”

The Road Ahead

From the ruins of war, Kwendin is slowly transforming into a center of opportunity. What was once a forgotten vocational center is now at the heart of an agro-economic revival, one that promises jobs, food security, and dignity for thousands of Liberians.

If sustained, the seeds planted today in Nimba’s District 9  soil may well grow into the foundation of Liberia’s next chapter of prosperity.