Wester Cluster empowers local farmers

Western Cluster Liberia Ltd over the weekend carried out its first rice harvest project for affected communities.

The project is a seed multiplication one , intended to be replicated to several other locations. The first harvest exercise took place in Tubmanburg with plans of expanding   it to affected communities.

Mr. Joseph Coelho, CEO for Western Cluster told reporters that this was part of a way to support   governments’ ARREST agenda. Event though their primary  focus is mining, they have decided to contribute to the agricultural sector. It can be recalled that recently, Western Cluster Liberia Limited  introduced Indian rice farming in Bomi County, a significant move aimed at diversifying the company’s operations and supporting local farmers.

“Even though our main focus is mining, we believe it’s equally important to contribute to the agricultural sector. Agriculture is the backbone of any sustainable economy, and we want to be part of that process here in Bomi County,” Coelho said.

The rice variety being introduced is the same parboiled rice commonly sourced from India. “The rice we are bringing to Bomi County is the same one that people usually travel to India for. It’s a fast-growing variety that takes just three months to be ready for harvest,” Coelho noted.

Mr. Coelho emphasized the importance of supporting local farmers in this endeavor. “Since this is the first of its kind in Bomi County, we will be conducting seed distribution after the first harvest. Our goal is to ensure that more local farmers get access to these seeds and can start growing this high-quality rice,” he added.

The CEO also assured that the company would provide technical assistance to farmers to ensure the successful adoption of this new farming technique. “We are committed to working with the farmers and offering the necessary training and support for them to make the most of this opportunity.”

The company brought in 2Kg of the Indian Parboiled Rice and the multiplication project has produced four hundred kilograms.