An international trade executive has arrived in Liberia to study the possibility of expanding trade in the agro sector. David Webster arrived last week on the invitation of Liberia Trade and Investment Representative, Gurley Gibson.
During his stay in the country, Mr. Webster had series of discussion with representative of Liberia agricultural cooperative, representatives of the Government of Liberia, and other stakeholders in the sector.
The veteran trade consultant and former president of one of the largest agricultural cooperatives in eastern United States, also visited a nursery for food crop and vegetable production at Tower Hill, and a modern fish pond in Duazon, outside Monrovia.
Speaking during the visit to Tower Hill nursery, Mr. Webster who has over 35 years of experience in food and agriculture industries described the future of Liberia Agro sector as promising.
He called on farmers to increase their volume of production by working together in a well-established cooperative and farmers association in order to attract internal investment.
Mr. Webster also stressed the need for farmers to engage in large-scale mechanized farming using modern techniques in food crop production and preservation.
The CEO and president of Webster Marketing International further noted that small-scale farming using primitive tools is not enough to make Liberia a farming nation.
He assured Liberia farmers of his preparedness to help them attract international market to boost trade in Liberia agricultural products.
Also speaking, the Secretary General of Liberia Farmer Coalition lauded Ambassador Gibson for linking farmers in Liberia with international business organization, through the visiting international trade consultant.
He expressed the hope that Mr. Webster who heads several senior sale, marketing, and management positions, with major food and agricultural companies around the world, will help boost the trade in agricultural product and reduce poverty among Liberian farmers.
For her part, Ambassador Gibson lauded President Joseph Nyumah Boakai for prioritizing farming in the country, and appealed to farmers to hold together in cooperating in order to increase productivity.
The former Liberia Ambassador to the United Kingdom currently based in the United States also promised to seek support to build the capacity of local farmers around the country.