BONG COUNTY AGRIC DE

closed

The project would assist about 9,000 small farmers in the upper Bong county to develop about 6,000 ha of upland rice, 2,000 ha. of swamp rice, 3,000 ha. of cocoa and 1,500 ha. of coffee through provision of farm inputs on the basis of credit, extension services for crop production and land development and assistance in processing and marketing of crops. In addition the project would: (a) construct or recondition 300 km of farm-to-market roads and maintain 540 km; (b) establish farmer cooperatives; (c) help establish banking facilities in the project area; (d) improve agricultural research facilities at Suakoko; (e) provide schistosomiasis surveillance and construct 300 village wells; (f) train Liberians and strengthen institutional framework for agricultural development; and (g) provide technical assistance for project preparation. The project would establish a smallholder credit scheme to provide: (a) development loans for coffee and cocoa and for swamp rice; and (b) seasonal loans.