The Mission of Hope for the Disabled, situated in City View, Lower Johnsonville, outside Monrovia, has ventured into agriculture.
The initiative is part of efforts to ensure self-sufficiency, and empower persons living with disabilities.
The Executive Director of the Mission of Hope for the Disabled, Pastor Victor S. Wilson, told reporters how agriculture remains a key pillar for the organization.
Wilson: “Mission of Hope is engaged in lots of activities that help us cater to persons with disabilities, and the less fortunate. One of our pillars is agriculture. We have the pillar of education, vocational training, medical and a lot of things, all intended to make persons with disabilities self-sufficient, independent, and not to be a liability to society.”
At the demonstration site, cabbage is ready for harvest, while cucumbers, and other vegetables are being cultivated.
Wilson disclosed how the Mission owns 125 acres of farmland in Todee, rural Montserrado County, “but the land remains a demonstration farm.”
He explained how the agriculture initiative started when Catholic Relief Services (CRS) conducted a trial for farmers in the community.
“This is really the demonstration site. It’s a little demonstration site for us, but it is a great thing that Mission of Hope is engaged in agriculture. We believe that agriculture will be a pillar that will help us because people will not continue donating. At times, some partners will suffer donors’ fatigue.”
Wilson said, agriculture will serve as a sustainable backbone for the Mission, ensures a year-round income and food security.
“How can we sustain ourselves at a level so that when partners are out of funding. We can at least stay on our own a bit. We believe that agriculture will be a standard backbone, because when we are engaged with agricultural activities it will help us.”
Wilson pointed to the cabbage currently under cultivation. He noted that with a proper irrigation system, the Mission will produce cabbage, and other vegetables throughout the year without going out of season.
The Mission has a cassava farm in Todee that is ready for harvest, but they lack of transportation to bring the products to the market remains the challenge.
The Mission, has meanwhile, called on the government, humanitarian organizations, and any well-meaning individuals to support its agriculture program with farming inputs, seedlings, and logistical support to fully develop the farmland in Todee.
