By Amara Konneh
MONROVIA, Aug. 13 (LINA) – A group of local community rice farmers in Brewerville, Montserrado County under the canopy of Community Peace and Development Initiative (COPDI), is calling on national government and other development partners for agricultural assistance aim at boosting their efforts to expand rice production in order to ensure self-reliance.
Speaking Tuesday, August 11, 2026, in an interview with the Liberia News Agency in Monrovia as head and founder of the organization, Mr. Abu J. Samah, appealed to well-meaning Liberians including government officials, civil society organizations and other international partners to come to their aid by providing them an assistance in whatever way possible in agricultural rice production which would not only benefit the organization but other non-members.
He said the organization was founded in 2022 in Po River, Blamase Community Kamara Town in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and after years in establishment, the organization later migrated behind Bible College Community to continue the effort of production which he believes that rice is Liberia’s staple food and as such there is a need for all to be involved in efforts to support the government in its quest to reduce the importation of rice and make Liberia self-sufficient for the future.
The COPDI Chairman added that with the support of other international partners in rice production, the organization is prepared to contribute to minimize the importation of rice and other agricultural products on the Liberian Market because they have fertile land but they do not have the capacity to expand their production.
However, Chairman Samah used the medium to extend his gratitude to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for providing them few working tools and other agricultural training in 2025.
He disclosed that the FAO also promised to return with additional assistance, but, according to him, since then the organization has not received any support from anyone and it is slowing the process of production, therefore they are reaching out to people to help them so as to avoid dependency.