Disabled farmers shows farming potentials #liberia

A group of disabled farmers known as the Life is Good
Disabled Organization (LGDO) in Ganta, Nimba County has
planted a local variety of cassava on an acre of land.
The physically challenged said their aim is to earn income
and support their families from proceed from the cassava
that they would harvest from the farm.
Despite the Ebola crisis, which has also affected Liberia's
agriculture sector, the disabled farmers generated L$2,500
from the sale of beans intercropped on one acre of cassava
planted from their last harvest.
They used the harvested cassava to feed members of the
group who turned out twice a week to do some works on
the farm.
The purpose of the disabled farmers' project is to generate
money to transform it in to meaningful business ventures,
such as soap making.
The money from the bean harvest was used to buy materials
to manufacture soap, another positive result from the
group's increased production, according to Abigail
Gonkarnue, chairlady of the organization.
"Being a disable person does not mean incapable to work
and earn money for oneself. It is not good to always look for
charity from individuals and organizations. This is why we
have focused on faming to raise money and support our
children," she explained.
The Life is Good Disable Organization is made up of 30
people, all of which are physically challenged, including
being deaf and blind.
Kougbay Z. Kulah, coordinator of the Nimba County
disabled community, said that there is a need for members
of the disabled community in Nimba to get access to quality
education and health care.
"We want the government to provide us technical training in
soap making and dyeing clothe. Our children need
scholarships to get educated as well," he said.
He said there are over 8000 disabled people in Ganta,
Nimba County who need some form of support from the
government, and many of the programs designed for
members of the disabled community in Liberia are not
reaching those in the rural areas.
Mr. Kulah said because of the importance of food security
the disabled community is calling on the government for
more supports to produce food.