Vice President Boakai, himself a cocoa farmer, policy maker and an authority in the area of agriculture, made these remarks recently when he addressed a workshop on cocoa certification in Larkpazee, Sinkor.
He said through this process and with the aid of partners, farmers in Nimba, Bong, Lofa, and other cocoa producing counties would have improved their technical capacity and knowledge to increase the quantity of cocoa for the market.
He said the Government of Liberia supports the workshop and hopes there will be informed discussions among stakeholders to consider the cost-benefit analysis for Liberian farmers, and to derive a consensus-driven resolution on how Liberia should proceed with certification and non-certification, a release said.
Vice President Boakai urged the participants to take bold, appropriate and timely actions that will enhance productivity and protect the smallholders from the threats of climate change.
The Vice President recently said at the 35th Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development in Rome, Italy, that rural farmers need to fight against poverty and their limited capacities to withstand the consequences of climate change.
Meanwhile, VP Boakai over the weekend inaugurated a new social enterprise aimed at reducing the economic inequality of women in Liberia.
The enterprise will support the local economy, empower women and girls socially and economically, as well as promote peace and reconciliation in the workplace and community.
In a brief remark, the founder and director of Jola House Creations, Ms. Elfreda Mayson thanked the Vice President for the level of interest Government has demonstrated in the empowerment of Liberian businesses.
