Nimba, Liberia: The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), through its World Bank-funded Rural Economic Transformation Project (RETRAP), has commissioned a state-of-the-art US$300,000 vegetable cold storage facility for farmers in Nimba County.
The commissioning ceremony took place on Friday, April 25, 2025, in Whenlenla Town, Nimba District One, near Ganta.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Gala Toto, National Program Coordinator of RETRAP, hailed the project as a major success story of innovation and dedication from the MOA administration and technical team.
Mr. Toto noted that the farmers of Nimba, particularly those along the corridor between Whenlenle Town and Baila at the St. John River Bridge, have demonstrated high productivity in vegetable farming but have long struggled with post-harvest losses due to the lack of proper storage facilities.
“The absence of a cold storage facility has significantly hampered your ability to generate income,” Mr. Toto remarked. “On many occasions, we observed vegetables rotting by the roadside because farmers had no means to properly store their produce.”
He further explained that the facility is powered by a 15KVA solar energy system, complemented by a 20KVA standby generator to ensure a consistent power supply. Additionally, he announced the provision of a refrigerated truck to help farmers maintain the quality of their vegetables while transporting them to market centers.
Representing Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, Assistant Minister for Administration, Hon. Folton Blasin, emphasized that the new facility reflects the government’s commitment to fulfilling its promises under the ARREST agenda to revamp the agriculture sector.
Blasin reaffirmed the government’s dedication to ensuring farmers benefit fully from their efforts under the Boakai-Koung administration and expressed gratitude to the World Bank for its ongoing support. He also pledged the government’s full implementation of the National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP), also known as the “Liberians Feed Yourselves” initiative.
Responding on behalf of the farmers, Mr. Ezekiel Sayetee, Chairman of the Say No To Hunger Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative Society, lauded the project as transformative.
“This state-of-the-art facility will not only enhance the preservation of our produce but also empower farmers by reducing post-harvest losses, expanding market opportunities, and improving the livelihoods of countless families who depend on agriculture,” Mr. Sayetee said.
He extended heartfelt thanks to the MOA, the RETRAP technical team, and the World Bank for what he described as a “lifetime opportunity” for farmers in Nimba.
The event brought together officials and staff from the MOA and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), representatives from the Office of the Vice President of Liberia, leaders of the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA) Nimba branch, local chiefs, elders, and farmers’ cooperatives from across Nimba District One.
