NO WORRY FOR JOB AS LONG AS I TILL THE SOIL...
Freeman Kollie, a vegetable farmer who helps other farmers scale up beyond subsistence operations...
Freeman Kollie, a graduate from the college of Agriculture and Forestry at the University of Liberia (UL) is developing 5 acres of land with vegetables to sustain his family as well as assisting several smallholder farmers with farm inputs to improve their crops production.
Located in Bong Mines community, Fuamah District, Bong County Kollie is growing vegetables and providing extension services to farmers with meager resources in four counties, including Bong, Nimba, Margibi and Montserrado.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Observer recently, Kollie stressed that agriculture is the way forward for the Liberian economy and so there is a need that more of the citizens invest in the sector.
“I graduated with skills in agriculture from the U.L in 2015 and, since then, I have gained self-employment in the agricultural sector,” he said.
“There is a perception that many students graduating from the schools of agriculture in Liberia end up not venturing into the informal sector of agriculture. The expectations of the students are high and the government is doing nothing to empower them after graduation,” Kollie added.
"Freeman Kollie at the lettuce section of his 5-acre farm. "Lettuce is one of the money-making vegetables in Liberia."
The UL agriculture graduate has 5 years of experience in working with non-governmental organizations (NGO) as an extension officer.
He said extension services are poor in Liberia, causing many smallholder farmers to continue farming at subsistence level.
According to him, government must improve on agriculture extension by allotting more money in the budget for agriculture so that more students acquiring knowledge in the field of agriculture can work as extension agents.
This farming season, Kollie has cultivated vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage and tomatoes that are of demand on the local market. According to him, agriculture is a profitable venture that Liberians need to prioritize.
The UL agriculture graduate has 5 years of experience in working with non-governmental organizations (NGO) as an extension officer.
He said extension services are poor in Liberia, causing many smallholder farmers to continue farming at subsistence level.
According to him, government must improve on agriculture extension by allotting more money in the budget for agriculture so that more students acquiring knowledge in the field of agriculture can work as extension agents.
This farming season, Kollie has cultivated vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage and tomatoes that are of demand on the local market. According to him, agriculture is a profitable venture that Liberians need to prioritize.
By Judoemue Kollie
www.liberianobserver.com
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