The Disputed Rice Contract: A Liberian Farmer’s Accusation and the Ministry’s Rebuttal
In the heart of Liberia’s agricultural landscape, a contentious dispute has erupted between a local farmer and the Ministry of Agriculture, casting a shadow over the nation’s efforts to bolster rice production. Michael Pewu, the founder and executive director of Meni-Nina Farmers Inc., a farming organization based in Bong County, has publicly accused the Ministry of reneging on a contractual agreement under the Emergency Rice Production Offensive (ERPO), a World Bank-funded initiative aimed at revitalizing Liberia’s rice sector. Mr. Pewu contends that the Ministry has withheld crucial payments essential for the successful execution of the project, leaving his organization in financial straits and jeopardizing the livelihoods of numerous farmers who depend on the initiative.
The crux of the disagreement revolves around the disbursement of funds allocated for the ERPO project. According to Mr. Pewu, the Ministry agreed to a structured payment plan, divided into three phases: 50% for land preparation, 30% for rice growing, and 20% for post-harvest activities. He alleges that while the initial 50% for land preparation was duly disbursed, the Ministry has failed to release the subsequent 30% earmarked for the crucial rice growing phase. This alleged breach of contract, Mr. Pewu asserts, has left his organization struggling to meet its financial obligations to the farmers who diligently worked on the project, jeopardizing their livelihoods and casting doubt on the future of the initiative.
Mr. Pewu further claims that his organization has successfully completed the land preparation phase, exceeding the initial target of 21.5 hectares. He emphasizes that project monitors, after inspecting the site, expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved. Despite this positive assessment, the anticipated second-phase payment of 30% has yet to materialize, leaving Mr. Pewu and his farming group in a precarious financial position. He reveals that he has personally invested substantial resources to keep the project afloat, bringing it to the harvesting stage, even as the Ministry remains delinquent in its payment obligations.
Complicating the matter further is the Ministry’s staunch denial of Mr. Pewu’s allegations. Moses Gbanyan, Deputy Minister for Extension and Research at the Ministry of Agriculture, has dismissed the farmer’s claims as "false and misleading," accusing Mr. Pewu of being "one of the corrupt farmers in Bong County." Mr. Gbanyan contends that Meni-Nina Farmers Inc. failed to meet the performance targets set for the project’s first phase, thus justifying the withholding of further payments. He also questions the legitimacy of Meni-Nina Farmers Inc. as a genuine farmer cooperative, suggesting that it operates more as a one-man business, with Mr. Pewu allegedly using the names of local farmers for personal financial gain.
The Deputy Minister further alleges that Mr. Pewu’s accusations are politically motivated, stemming from his alleged opposition to the Unity Party during the 2023 elections. He maintains that if Mr. Pewu chooses to politicize the issue, the Ministry will treat him as a "political farmer." Mr. Gbanyan also points to previous grants received by Meni-Nina Farmers Inc. through the Ministry of Agriculture, implying a pattern of financial mismanagement on the part of Mr. Pewu. This stark contrast in narratives paints a picture of a deeply fractured relationship between the farmer and the Ministry, raising questions about the transparency and accountability surrounding the ERPO project.
The dispute between Mr. Pewu and the Ministry of Agriculture underscores the complex challenges facing Liberia’s agricultural sector. While the ERPO project holds the promise of boosting rice production and enhancing food security, the allegations of contractual breaches and financial mismanagement threaten to undermine its potential impact. The conflicting accounts presented by both parties highlight the need for a thorough and impartial investigation to ascertain the truth and ensure that the project’s objectives are achieved in a transparent and equitable manner. The future of Liberia’s rice production, and the livelihoods of the farmers who dedicate their lives to this crucial sector, hang in the balance.
