By: P. Uriah Suah | 0881-137-395
Ganta, Nimba County — Over thirty students and lecturers from the College of Agriculture of Grand Gedeh University have paid an educational visit to the farm of Liberia’s Vice President, Hon. Jeremiah Kpan Koung, and the Kpailama Agribusiness Enterprise, located along the Ganta–Sokopa highway, as part of activities marking the 2025 National Agriculture Fair.
The visit formed part of an intensive learning tour aimed at exposing students to practical agricultural operations, agribusiness management, and modern farming techniques. During the engagement, students interacted with farm managers, observed mechanized processes, and received hands-on explanations on value addition in agriculture. Speaking on behalf of the students, their spokesperson expressed gratitude to Vice President Koung for hosting them and providing a learning-friendly environment.
“Your willingness to create space for young people, especially agriculture students, demonstrates your strong commitment to education, youth empowerment, and the future of food security in Liberia,” the spokesperson said. “Your leadership inspires us to pursue excellence as the next generation of agricultural professionals.”
During the engagement, students of Grand Gedeh University, particularly from the College of Agriculture, presented four key recommendations to the Vice President’s office, including the construction of a modern Soil Science Laboratory. They noted that the absence of such a facility limits effective learning and emphasized that it would enhance practical training, improve agricultural productivity in the county, and contribute to national food security.
They also called for support in establishing student exchange and exposure programs with agricultural institutions in Africa and beyond to expose Liberian students to modern mechanized farming, irrigation technologies, greenhouse operations, and climate-smart agricultural practices.
Additionally, the students highlighted challenges faced during the dry season due to the lack of irrigation facilities and appealed for the construction of a modern irrigation system on campus to enable year-round production, research activities, and demonstration plots.
The students further requested support for agricultural materials, including farm tools, soil testing kits, seedlings, fertilizers, protective gear, and small machinery to strengthen practical learning and produce job-ready graduates.For her part, Student President Giftee Wright expressed appreciation to Vice President Koung and members of Friends of JK (FOJ) for their support in making the visit possible.
“We came for the National Agriculture Fair, but it was through his support that we were hosted, transported, and financed,” Wright said. “We were acknowledged, we gained knowledge, and our morale has been boosted.”
She also commended Mr. Sylvester Kpai for personally guiding the students during the farm tour and encouraging them to remain focused on agriculture as a career path. Wright further encouraged female students to take agriculture seriously, describing it as a viable and fast-growing economic opportunity.
“Agriculture is not only for men. There is power in agriculture,” she stressed.Also speaking, Mr. Varnie Karneh, a lecturer at Grand Gedeh University, described the tour as a valuable learning experience for both students and instructors.“Our students have seen how agriculture moves from the soil to the table,” he said. “This exposure will help them put into practice what they have learned and apply it in their communities.”
Mr. Karneh acknowledged challenges facing the institution, including limited access to mechanized equipment, irrigation systems, and practical tools, despite receiving a national government budget. He expressed hope that partnerships and support from stakeholders would help address these gaps.Motivating the students, Mr. Sylvester Kpai, Dream Bearer and CEO of Kpailama Agribusiness Enterprise, shared insights into agribusiness development and job creation. He disclosed that his enterprise currently employs over 38 Liberian youths, including agronomists, extension officers, environmentalists, accountants, and business managers, along with more than 20 casual laborers.
Mr. Kpai explained the company’s palm oil processing system, its investment in modern equipment sourced from Ghana, and partnerships with schools and universities for the supply of quality palm oil. He emphasized that agriculture, when properly managed, can create sustainable employment and economic growth.The visit concluded with renewed commitment from students and lecturers to prioritize practical agriculture.
Participants described the tour as inspiring and transformative, reinforcing the need for Liberia to invest more in agricultural education as a pathway to food security, youth employment, and national development. The students pledged to return to their communities with the knowledge gained, encouraging more young people to engage in agriculture not just as a profession, but as a solution to Liberia’s development challenges.
