Monrovia, Liberia - President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says government will work with its international partners, particularly China, to encourage the introduction of modern methods of farming in the country. The introduction of these methods, the President said, will help the country become self sufficient in food production.  The President, according to an Executive Mansion release, was speaking Saturday during the harvesting of a pilot hybrid rice project at a swamp located near her residence.

 

The Liberian leader observed that too often Liberian farmers experience losses through the use of  traditional methods of rice production, speaking of the need to adopt modern techniques. President Johnson Sirleaf said she was impressed with the method of hybrid rice planting which she first observed at the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) in Kakata, and was encouraged to begin the process near her residence.

 

The President urged the Ministry of Agriculture to work along with Chinese agricultural experts on developing the hybrid rice farming method in Liberia.  The Liberian leader also challenged the National Traditional Council of Liberia to inform all Liberians, particularly local farmers, about the process.

 

Chinese Ambassador Zhou Yuxiao, who also spoke at the occasion, said his country will work with Liberia in improving the country's agricultural program by sharing China's experience in the area.  He disclosed that China will build a large agriculture center in Liberia to provide training for Liberian farmers in modern methods of agriculture. The center, Ambassador Zhou said, will be turned into a skills training and commercial farming center three years following its completion.

 

The President was joined in the harvesting exercise by Agriculture Minister, Dr. Chris Toe, local farmers, and the Chairman of the Traditional Council of Liberia, Chief Zanzar Kawah.

 

Under the hybrid rice project, two to three crops of rice can be cultivated during the course of a year.

 

The project was an initiated by the President, with the Ministries of Public Works and Agriculture providing field support. Rice seeds used in the experiment were LP121 Hybrid Rice, cultivated in China and provided by a Chinese Agricultural Experts Team station at the Booker Washington Institute. The team provided fertilizer and pesticides.  The duration for growing hybrid rice is estimated at 105–110 days.

 

Source: Executive Mansion