Story By: Boima J.V.Boima

Photo on Flickr by ladybugblue

The problem of manual labor for Liberian farmers will soon be relieved after the Rotary club of Sinkor, in collaboration with its international partners, donated farming equipment in order to help the Liberian government’s effort towards the production of food and the reduction of poverty.

The donation which was made November 3, 2009, through the Liberian Children Schooling Project cost over US$40,000 and it is intended to complement the manual labor of the farmers in the country.

The donation, which attracted many Rotarians like Prince A. Joles among others, included a caterpillar tractor, truck and other assorted farming equipment.

Giving background on the project, the Treasurer of the Rotary Club of Sinkor, Augustus J. Flomo, who also doubles as the chief administrator of the club, said that the project came into being following the visitation of some Rotarians from the USA who toured some farms across the country.

“Due to what they saw, they were encouraged to facilitate the provision of this equipment to the farmers so as to fast track their activities in term of rice production in the country. To comply with the procedure of the club, we provided US$500 to clear the equipment from the port,” Mr. Flomo said.

The chief administrator of the club also noted that the project is aimed at providing farming equipment to rural dwellers  across the country adding that though the current donation will only benefit a district in Bong County, there are plans to extend them to the other parts of the country so that all rural farmers will benefit from the donation.

“As Rotarians, we believe in  helping the poor. We are also optimistic that these equipment will impact the lives of our rural farmers in producing their own food which will also helps the government in fighting against hunger and poverty. Therefore, we want you people to make a maximum use of these equipment,” he urged the farmers.

The Vice president of the Rotary Club of Sinkor Mrs. A. Nadu Cooper also encouraged the farmers to use the equipment for their intended purpose adding that if such is done, the Club will be encouraged to make more assorted donations.

“We want you all to fully participate in making this project a success by making the maximum use of these equipment that have been donated to you people,” V.P. Cooper told a cross section of beneficiaries.

In his closing remarks, the Executive director of the Liberian Children Schooling project, Mogana S.Flomo, Sr., on behalf of the farmers commended the club for what he described as their timely gesture.

Director Flomo assured the Rotarians that they will make a maximum use of the donated equipment. “In fact we want to use this occasion to officially invite the Rotarian club  to the harvesting ceremony of our farm- I mean the one that we grew with our manual hands,” Mr. Flomo said amidst a an applause from the Rotarians.