Where We Work : Liberia : Agriculture, Livestock and Poultry

BRAC launched the agriculture, livestock and poultry programme in Liberia in 2008. Agriculture is the largest sector of the Liberian economy and the most important source of income for women.

Liberia is heavily dependent on agriculture and livestock to feed its people and since the sector was largely destroyed by the civil war, its rehabilitation is essential for the economic revitalisation of the country, as recognised in the government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy.

In Bangladesh, BRAC has been working to increase the productivity of this sector since 1978, developing many supporting activities such as disease management, dissemination of improved breeds and crop varieties, supply of livestock and poultry feed and milk processing and distribution. Since then, we have helped more than 4.2 million people create and sustain livelihoods from different kinds of farming.

In Liberia, the majority of people are involved in small scale farming activities, such as raising chickens, sheep, goats or pigs and cultivating small plots of land of less than three acres. In addition to providing poor women with the investment capital for their activities, we offer training and support on modern farming techniques which can greatly increase their profits.

Programme Description

BRAC’s agriculture, livestock and poultry programme addresses the problem of poor crop and livestock productivity in Liberia. Crops grown for domestic consumption include rice, cassava, sweet potato, plantains, yam, bitter ball, cucumber, eggplant and ground nuts. Liberian agriculture remains heavily dependent on rainfall, with less than 1% of arable land under irrigation. Traditional livestock farmers breed nearly 100% of all cattle, goats and sheep, using local animals and basic techniques.

Agriculture and Livestock Programme Supervisors

Both components are coordinated at the branch level through dedicated programme supervisors. Each programme supervisor receives extensive training from BRAC on topics such as livestock and poultry rearing and diseases (for livestock volunteer supervisors) and improved farming practices, high yield seed varieties and related technologies (for agriculture extension worker supervisors). They also attend an annual refresher course to keep their skills updated. Once trained, the programme supervisor’s role is to train and supervise the agriculture extension workers and livestock volunteers who are at the core of the programme. At any point in time, programme supervisors can ask for assistance from the agriculture and livestock extension officers based at the area offices.

Agriculture Extension Workers

The primary agents for the agriculture activities are the self-employed model agriculture extension workers. They are required to have a minimum of two years agricultural experience and farmed at least two acres of land. They must be willing to work with other low income farmers in their community and supply them with quality inputs. The agriculture extension workers are trained by BRAC programme supervisors or extension officers to offer technical assistance to general farmers operating on a small scale, i.e. less than one acre of land.

BRAC agriculture supervisors at the branch level attend microfinance group meetings to identify agriculture extension workers from among the members. The local BRAC branch is responsible for screening and short-listing candidates; the final selection is done by the agriculture extension officers at the area office.

The agriculture extension workers are then provided a two-week training at the branch office. This covers farming techniques for specific crop varieties, focusing on the entire life cycle of the crop, starting from preparation of the land to harvesting. When their training is complete, each of the agriculture workers identifies 250 small-holder farmers living in their communities with the support of the branch staff. Forty of these farmers will become model farmers, who specialise in crop production and promote good farming practices to others in their communities.

Agriculture extension workers assist the farmers on technical issues such as choice of varieties to grow, improved seeds to use, crop-spacing, rotation, intercropping, weeding, planting, fertilisation, pest control, post harvest management, utilisation of by-products, as well as integration of crop and livestock enterprises within the farm. They also sell improved seeds and other agricultural inputs.

Poultry and Livestock Volunteers

The poultry and livestock component also carries out community activities through self-employed volunteers. These are experienced women poultry and livestock farmers who are selected from BRAC microfinance groups. After selection, they receive extensive training in livestock husbandry, health issues and vaccinations. Training also includes the production and conservation of fodder crops. Once trained, poultry and livestock volunteers generate income by charging fees for their services. With help from BRAC, they offer vaccination services, sell veterinary medicine, and provide technical assistance to other microfinance group members and the wider farming community. Livestock volunteers select and assist model poultry farmers and broiler rearers. It is through this pyramid of entrepreneurial extension agents and structured supervision system that we can extend our services to thousands of people in Liberia.