Liberia: Farmers Want Ag Minister Cooper Retained

Fuamah District farmers have called on President-elect Joseph N. Boakai to retain Agriculture Minister Jeanine Cooper as Minister of Agriculture in the new government.

The farmers said there’s no need for the minister’s replacement and she should be given the chance to continue her work.

President-elect Boakai has declared agriculture as a number one priority for his administration. The appointment of a new minister of agriculture has therefore become a key discussion in many corners.

The group of farmers in Fuamah District, Bong County, recently bestowed the honor on the minister for what they considered as her dedicated services towards the agricultural sector of Liberia, despite reports of her alleged involvement in corruption.

Speaking at a program held in her honor, members of the Fuamah District Farmers Cooperative said that Minister Cooper has demonstrated compassion and hard work to assist the farmers and agribusinesses to increase productivity in the sector.

Prince Peter, chairman of the cooperative, said their cooperative in particular is experiencing advancement in the sector due to the level of support it has gotten under her administration.

“It’s under this minister’s administration that we have expanded rice production from 100 hectares to 500. This is the first time since the end of the war,” Peter explained. 

Cooper, previously an agribusiness entrepreneur and proprietress of Fabrar, the country’s largest rice processing company, became minister of agriculture in 2020 during the time of the COVID-19 outbreak, which disrupted agriculture activities.

She is the second Minister of Agriculture in the administration of President George Weah. Cooper succeeded the former minister of agriculture, Dr. Mogana Flomo, who was dismissed by the President.

Though Minister Cooper is being regarded for excellent performance, she and some officials of the ministry have been accused of alleged corruption. In 2022, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) accused her administration of the misappropriation of donor funds and the award of contracts in violation of the Public Procurement Law of Liberia. The Liberian senate, in the same vein, accused the Minister and her deputies of corruption and requested the LACC to conduct a full investigation into the matter. However, since then no action has been taken by the government and the Ministry has rejected the corruption allegations.

Minister Cooper, during her confirmation by the Senate promised to fight a

corruption, as there have been reports of alleged massive corruption in the country's agriculture sector in the past.

Since she took over the Ministry, the  minister has worked to support some of the farmers and agribusinesses to access inputs and grants to enhance productivity. 

The grant program, which was launched by the President a few years ago, is helping to bring changes in the sector.

Cooper’s administration has experienced a serious reduction in the budget for agriculture over the last three years. Thus, like the previous ministers, support for agriculture under her administration largely depends on donor funding.

There have also been some lapses in the implementation of the projects in terms of assistance to farmers. Extension services remain a very serious problem. 

Nevertheless, some stakeholders, including farmers, still believe that Minister Cooper remains the best choice for the ministry at the moment.

“The allegation of corruption on the minister is simply a conflict of interest and can’t be proven. She is truly working in the interest of the farmers,” a farmer said.