Empowering Local Farmers
(The Liberian Business Hour)
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture continues to empower local Liberian farmers through its “Farmers’ Market Day” initiative under the Grow 2 project. The project is being funded by the Swedish Embassy in Monrovia.
The market, which was held on Friday, March 6, 2026, at the Invincible Park in Airfield, provided a unique opportunity for local farmers and entrepreneurs to not only showcase their locally produced products, including fresh fruits, vegetables, natural juices, and processed products, but also ensured networking and collaboration amongst local business people.
With over twenty (20) vendors, the occasion drew the attraction of many shoppers and customers from diverse localities who trooped in to buy from the variety of selection provided by farmers on the market tables.
Speaking to the Liberian Business Hour briefly during the event, UNIDO Monitoring and Evaluation Administrator Konah Taryor disclosed that the market was aimed at empowering Liberian farmers to enhance community growth and promote agricultural products.
She added that the event will provide a significant increase in vendors’ income and boost public visibility.
Taryor emphasized that many Liberian businesses have struggled with branding and public visibility, which are essential in improving business productivity and growth.
“Basically, we know our small businesses are struggling, so as a project and as part of our goal, we are here to help them improve their branding,” She explained.
Beyond the market sales, UNIDO collaborates with the local farmers, offering training to improve their brands, products processing, and packaging, thereby accelerating growth and sustainable development.
“All these people you see here, they work with us. When we encountered them, they were at a very low level,” Madame Konah Taryor emphasized. “We helped improve their packaging and processing to have healthy products on the market and also provide training for them to build their capacity.”
Market Sustainability Plan
Aligned with the project’s objective and the potential to connect more than 150 buyers and sellers, the Farmers’ Market is an all-day, venture that comes once a month; it is designed to support Small and Medium Enterprises, with the venue at the Invincible Park.
However, the event’s sustainability remains uncertain as the Swedish Government announced plans to discontinue development aid to several nations, including Liberia. The Swedish government said this drastic measure will free up more than 2 billion kronor in the next two years to support energy infrastructure rebuilding in Ukraine.
The move suggests that the Swedish Embassy in Liberia will be officially closed by August 2026, ending more than a decade of international aid and cooperation. Sweden supports at least 39 projects across various sectors, including human rights, gender equality, youth and women’s empowerment, sexual and reproductive health, agriculture, media development, among others, with an investment strategy for Liberia totaling SEK 1.85 billion or US$196.7 million from 2021 to 2025.
Konah Taryor said, “Because the Swedish government will be pulling out of Liberia very soon, we have our sustainability plan for the Ministry of Agriculture marketing division to take over the market.”
According to her, there are also plans to extend the project to other Counties in Liberia, but such plans heavily depend on whether or not they receive sufficient funds for the program expansion.
The GROW 2 Project Monitoring and Evaluation Administrator called on Liberians to support local Liberian farmers and entrepreneurs by patronizing any of their naturally produced products, stressing that the more Liberians invest in local businesses, the more farmers will be empowered, and the Country’s economy will grow.
*Vendors Applaud UNIDO*
Meanwhile, vendors participating in the market commended the efforts of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to empower local farmers through the monthly event.
One of the vendors, Mamie Johnson of Her Voice Agricultural Farm, expressed gratitude to UNIDO for providing the platform for her organization to showcase its fresh, locally produced goods from the farm.
“The day has not gone far, and I have sold out nearly all my pepper, so I am happy to be here and for the opportunity,” Johnson expressed.
The vendors highlighted their transformational journey from a startup to gradually becoming a large-scale business through the phased, holistic, and sustainable growth process.
“I am a baby of UNIDO from the time I was connected with them, they have tried to nurture my business from its embryo stage to where I am now,” Purukpeh Agricultural Farm CEO, Estelle Liberty, narrated.
Grow 2 Project is a partnership between the Swedish Embassy in Liberia, UNIDO, and the Ministry of Agriculture that is designed to unlock the potential of Liberia’s agriculture sector, focusing on inclusion, sustainability, and boosting productivity through modern methods.
With over a thousand local farmers already empowered, the project is poised to create market access and self-employment in the agriculture sector.