Bomi Community College Students Tour CARI Research Facilities

By Mark B. Newa

SUAKOKO, LIBERIA - A group of students from the Department of Agriculture at the Bomi Community College (BCC) recently toured facilities at the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), to have basic practical knowledge in agricultural research and advanced technology to enhance their learning experience.

In a welcome statement, Mrs. Abibatu T. Kromah, providing first-hand knowledge of the seven thematic programs at the Central Agricultural Research Institute, encouraged the students to specialize beyond general agriculture as this leads to diversified career opportunities.

Following this, on a guarded tour, the researchers briefed the students on new technologies including integrated rice and fish farming systems, rice trail fields in high-ion toxicity areas, cassava, vegetables, and rice production sites, post-harvest and value addition in the cassava food chain. They also visited the soil and seed laboratories, and organic fertilizer production sites, then followed mechanization and irrigation. 

Accompanied by four administrative staff members from the college, the general agriculture students’ visit took place November 26-27, 2024. The 29 students’ visit included a field tour of research and production areas while holding interactive sessions with heads of programs and other professional staff. These interactions were followed by engaging question-and-answer gatherings, allowing students to deepen their understanding of the topics discussed.

The tour covered the seven thematic areas, including crops, aquaculture livestock inland fisheries, biotechnology, natural resources management, mechanization and irrigation, post-harvest and food processing, socioeconomics, and applied statistics. 

Robert Ziama, research officer of the Aquaculture Livestock Inland Fisheries program, informed the students about the structure of evolving new farming methods in Liberia. The fingerlings are paired with the CY-rice variety in a selected lowland ecology.

He said the integrated rice-fish farming system, is an innovative approach that combines rice and fish farming to improve food security and nutrition. The essence is to transform traditional rice-fish production systems into climate-resilient, high-yielding, resource-efficient systems.

Daniel Dokie-Tokpah, a plant pathologist, explained the importance of bio-fertilizers and their applications. “Bio-fertilizers are an essential component of sustainable agriculture,” stressing, “bio-fertilizers are substances containing living microorganisms, which, when applied to seeds, plant surfaces, or soil, colonize the rhizosphere or the interior of the plant and promote growth by increasing the supply or availability of primary nutrients to the host plant.

The plant pathologist informed the visitors that bio-fertilizers enhance soil texture and fertility by increasing the organic matter content; eco-friendly are natural and do not cause environmental pollution. “Bio-fertilizers are cheaper compared to chemical fertilizers, they help in maintaining long-term soil fertility, suppress soil-borne diseases and pests, and provide essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. He named coating seeds before planting, seedling root dip, soil application, and foliar spray as the four methods of effective application of bio-fertilizers. 

Providing insights on the cassava value chain, Alice Kongoh, agronomist said the cassava value chain encompasses all the stages from cassava production to processing and marketing. Here's an overview of the key components, including production, harvesting, and processing.

She indicated at the production stage, the farmers cultivate cassava, focusing on high-yielding, disease-resistant varieties taking into consideration that good agronomic practices, such as proper planting techniques and pest management, are essential.

According to the researcher, cassava is harvested when it reaches maturity, typically around 9-12 months after planting. The roots are carefully dug out to avoid damage.

Also giving insights on post-harvest and value addition at the cassava processing hub at CARI, Suba Mulbah, research assistant, the processing of cassava involves several steps. The steps include peeling and washing by removing the outer skin and cleaning the roots, followed by grating or chipping to break down the cassava into smaller pieces for further processing.

As part of the process, he continued “one has to engage in dewatering by removing excess water from the grated or chipped cassava, ferment to allow the cassava to ferment to reduce cyanogenic glycosides, which can be toxic.” The process is then followed by ensuring the cassava is dried to prevent spoilage and prepare it for storage or further processing.

Suba Mulbah added that cassava can be processed into various products, including flour, starch, biofuel, and animal feed. High-quality cassava flour (HQCF) is used in baking and as a substitute for wheat flour, the starch is used in food products, pharmaceuticals, and textiles, produces bioethanol and the peels and residues can be processed into animal feed.

For the vegetables, Eric Tokpah, said veggies are a vital part of a healthy diet, offering an array of essential nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants that come in various types and are categorized based on their edible parts. He named leafy greens, cruciferous, root, bulb, stem, fruiting, tuber, pod, and seed as types of vegetables. 

The health benefits of vegetables provide essential nutrients, the high fiber content promotes the digestive system, and aid in preventing constipation. Other benefits include managing weight, preventing disease, and supporting the immune system.

Eric Emmanuel Pluato, research assistant at the Socioeconomic and Applied Statistics program said post-harvest losses in Liberia are a significant challenge that affects food security and farmers’ livelihoods.

“Post-harvest losses harm food security and create import dependency. In Liberia, reliance on imported staples, especially rice, is exacerbated by post-harvest losses,” he added.

For his part, Joseph Ndebeh, a breeder specializing in rice production, the KAFACI trial plot at CARI is part of an initiative to boost rice productivity and address food insecurity in the country. 

Speaking on the certified foundation seeds that are undergoing trial, Ndebeh indicated that the KAFACI trial plot at CARI is a significant step towards achieving sustainable agricultural development and ensuring food security in Liberia. The goal is to multiply these seeds and release them to farmers to increase rice production in Liberia.

For his part, James S. Sarkor, acting head of the mechanization and irrigation program, provided first-hand knowledge on farm machinery.

This visit provided valuable practical insights and exposed the students to cutting-edge agricultural techniques, supporting their academic growth and future careers in agriculture.

The students and faculty members on the excursion were thrilled by various presentations from the research scientists at CARI.