Farmer’s Advocate, James Kollie Galakpai, has called on lawmakers on Capitol Hill to recognize progress reported under agricultural development projects.
Galakpai also called for stronger government investment in farming.
He is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the Liberia Feed Yourself Agriculture Initiative Incorporated.
he cited ongoing interventions in Bong, Nimba and Lofa counties.
Galakpai argued that agricultural programs have provided support to farmers despite persistent challenges in the sector.
His comments come amid a dispute between Agriculture Minister J. Alexander Nuetah and Nimba County District #5 Representative Kortor S. Kwagrue.
Kwagrue had accused the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) for questionable procurement practices, inadequate support for farmers, and possible misuse of public funds allocated for agricultural supplies.
Nuetah rejected the allegations. He described them as “false, misleading and far from the truth.”
He challenged Kwagrue to provide evidence supporting his claims, and maintained that the Ministry had complied with Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) procedures in awarding contracts.
For Galakpai, he highlighted farmers’ progress under the Building Climate Resilience Project (BCRP), which aims to strengthen climate resilience, improve food security and promote sustainable agricultural production, particularly in rice and cocoa value chains.
The project targets 25,000 farmers, with 18,618 currently benefiting from its interventions.
Galakpai said, the assistance includes training, grants, fertilizers, seeds, power tillers, tricycles, and rice mills.
In Nimba County for example, Galakpai identified Saclepea-Mah, Zoe Gbao, Tappita, Yarwin-Meinsohnnoh, Menpea-Mah and Sanniquellie among the communities reached by the project.
He also pointed to the National Cocoa Seed Garden in Beeplay, which was established under the first phase of the Tree Crops Extension Project.
Galakpai urged lawmakers to consider these interventions when assessing agricultural development when they are exercising their oversight responsibilities.
He acknowledged that farmers continue to face limited access to machinery, high production costs, inadequate supplies of improved seeds and fertilizers, poor infrastructure, and limited market opportunities.
He also called on the Legislature to support Liberia’s commitment under the Kampala Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) Declaration to allocate at least 10 percent of national public expenditure to agriculture.
Nuetah has meanwhile, separately dismissed Representative Kwagrue’s allegation that the Ministry purchased rice, and re-bagged it. He questioned the basis for the claim.
“For a lawmaker to say the Ministry is buying rice, and re-bagging it, it’s one of the cheapest things I have ever heard.”
Nuetah acknowledged that some contract documents held by Kwagrue were genuine, but argued that the lawmaker lacked the context needed to interpret them correctly. He suggested that individuals seeking to damage his reputation may have provided incomplete information.
Nuetah denied awarding contracts outside established procurement procedures, and rejected the accusation that the Ministry had abandoned local farmers.
Kwagrue raised his concerns in a communication to the House’s Plenary, when he alleged questionable procurement practices, inadequate support for local farmers, and possible mishandling of agricultural purchases.
In his communication, Rep. Kwagrue cited the Fiscal Year 2026 national budget, specifically Budget Code 221807, which he said, allocated US$997,080 for agricultural supplies.
He alleged that US$800,000 was disbursed for fertilizers, seed rice, and agro-chemicals, but questioned whether the supplies reached their intended destinations.
He also raised concerns about the companies awarded the contracts and alleged links between the suppliers and the agriculture minister.
The contracts identified in the lawmaker’s statement are: Mar and Mon Group of Companies: US$152,250 for agro-chemicals; Gempro Agro Chemicals and Supplies: US$210,828.84 for seed rice; Agri Commodity Trading Company: US$240,920 for NPK fertilizer; and Agri Commodity Trading Company: US$196,000 for urea fertilizer. The listed amounts total US$800,000.78.
Kwagrue further alleged that Mar and Mon Group of Companies operates as a tailoring and sewing business in Sinkor and Thinker’s Village. He questioned its suitability as a supplier of agricultural inputs.
Though the claim has not been independently verified, Kwagrue also questioned the reported position that government budget funds were not supporting rice farmers during the current year.
He argued that the alleged purchases of seed rice and fertilizers warranted an explanation.
He has called for an independent investigation and the disclosure of procurement records, including details of the suppliers, receiving warehouses and farmers who benefited from the purchases.
The dispute has brought renewed attention to the management of public funds intended for agricultural development, the ministry’s procurement procedures and the delivery of support to local farmers.
Kwagrue has meanwhile, sought a legislative review of the transactions, while Nuetah maintains that the Ministry followed the required procurement procedures.
