THE AMERICAN PEOPLE GIVE OVER $800k of OIL PALM EQUIPMENT TO LIBERIA ……FOR THE CREATION OF SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT

The Liberia Community Infrastructure Program (LCIP) began playing a significant role in reviving four of Liberia’s oil palm plantations with the installation of eight palm oil processing equipment plants from Ghana. Over 2,630 ex-combatants and war affected persons, (WAPS), are participating in the restoration of these plantations through a skills training exercise designed to create sustainable employment. The overall program totals over $1.6 million US dollars with stipends, training and equipment in collaboration with local partners; Zleh Town, Liberia Agrisystems Incorporated,(LAS) in Zieh Town, Grand Gedeh County, Catalyst in Raymond Town Bong County, Multi-Agrisystems Promoters in Zleh Town, Organization for the Development of Agriculture and Farmer Related Association, (ODAFARA) in Foya, Lofa County.
As stated in a recent article in a local Liberian newspaper, the New Standard, “this small fruit bunch could be the economic boost Liberia needs.” Dr. John Meadley, the LCIP consultant smartly sculpts this unique micro-enterprise atmosphere closing the gap between the newly skilled, undercapitalized and unemployed ex-combatants and internally displaced persons. While the micro-enterprise environment challenges old practices, it also introduces new concepts in business management. The value of this training is yet to be realized for the many cooperatives and artisans commonly using manual processing for oil palm or apprenticeships before the war. However, the impact of these types of post war rehabilitation and reitntegration programs are changing the face of African reconstruction.
The increased development of oil palm in Liberia, is certain to atract investors from a world wide market, if fortune 500 companies ever catch interest in implementing a laboratory in Liberia for international exporting of this world commodity.

The Liberia Community Infrastructure Program is developed and managed by Development Alternatives Inc., put of ethesda, Maryland.
The Liberia Community Infrastructure Program, (LCIP) is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).