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TOUCHING LIVES

TOUCHING LIVES. AN OVERVIEW OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AGRICULTURE PROGRAM PRESENTED BY FTH. JAMES G. INNIS DIRECTOR. OVERVIEW. LIBERIA AS A COUNTRY IS ENDOWED WITH ABUNDANCE OF VEGETATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES: APPROPRIATE CLIMATIC CONDITIONS RICH SOIL DIVERSE VEGETATION

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TOUCHING LIVES

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  1. TOUCHING LIVES AN OVERVIEW OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AGRICULTURE PROGRAM PRESENTED BY FTH. JAMES G. INNIS DIRECTOR

  2. OVERVIEW LIBERIA AS A COUNTRY IS ENDOWED WITH ABUNDANCE OF VEGETATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES: APPROPRIATE CLIMATIC CONDITIONS RICH SOIL DIVERSE VEGETATION HUGE TROPICAL FOREST AND MORE

  3. A PICTORIAL OF LIBERIA’S RICH VEGETATION

  4. THE CHURCH AND AGRICULTURE THE AGRICULTURE MINISTRY OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WAS ORGANIZED TO PUT GOD’S LOVE INTO ACTION BY CREATING THE POSIBILITIES OF CARING FOR THE POOR, FEEDING THE HUNGRY AND PROVIDING EMPOWERMENT FOR THE DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE---ENHANCING SPIRITUAL LIVES THROUGH PRACTICAL ACTIONS

  5. THE MINISTRY WILL DO THE FOLLOWING: • SERVES AS A MEANS OF GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF GOD’S CREATION • TEACH FARMERS NEW TECHNIQUES AND FARMING METHODS • EMPOWER POOR VILLAGERS AGAINST THE DEPENDENCY SYNDROME • EQUIPS PEOPLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHERS THE BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE

  6. HISTORY OF THE UMCAP • UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AGRICULTURE PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE SIXTIES • IT WAS STARTED BY AMERICAN MISSIONERIES • THE PRIMARY INTENT WAS TO EMPOWER MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO EMPOWER THEMSELVES THROUGH AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISE

  7. SUCCESS OF EARLY UMCAP ACTIVITIES • SIX VIBRANT AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS WERE ESTABLISHED AROUND LIBERIA: • DECOURSEY FARM-LOCATED 20 MILES NORTH OF MONROVIA INCLUDE 50 ACRES OF PALM TRESS • WHITE PLAINS PROJECT-LOCATED 15 MILES NORTH-WEST OF LIBERIA INCLUDES 100 ACRES OF PALM, LIVESTOCK, AND FRUITS

  8. AGRICULTURAL PROJECTS CONT. • GBARNGA PROJECT –LOCATED IN RURAL LIBERIA INCLUDES ____ ACRES OF RUBBER TREES • GBASON TOWN AGRICULTURE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT-LOCATED IN SINOE, RURAL LIBERIA • ALL PROJECTS INCLUDED AN INTEGRATED SET OF AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES RANGING FROM VEGETATION, CROP PRODUCTION, CATTLE, PIG, POULTRY, RUBBER, AND OIL PALM PRODUCTION

  9. MORE ACTIVITIES BY MISSIONARIES • THEY ESTABLISHED MINI STORES IN AREAS CLOSE TO WHERE FARM ACTIVITIES WERE CARRIED OUT-THE STORES HAD ON SALE FRESH VEGETABLES CHICKENS AND EGGS, MEAT (CATTLE AND PIG), FRESH FISH, PALM PRODUCTS ETC • THE SUCCESS OF THE UMCAP PROGRAME PROVIDED INCOME FOR THE LIBERIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE; EMPLOYMENT FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS; AND SUPPORTED OTHER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

  10. UMCAP AND THE WAR • THE ONSET OF THE WAR IN 1989 AND CIVIL WAR IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS HAD A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON LIBERIANS. • BUT THROUGH IT ALL, UMCAP WAS THERE WITH DIFFERENT KINDS OF AGRICULTURAL PROJECTS INVOLVING 50,000 FARMERS IN 60 DIFFERENT COMMUNITY BASED PROJECTS

  11. UMCAP AND HER PARTNERS UMCAP PARTNER WITH SEVERAL MAJOR DONORS TO REACH OUT TO LIBERIANS: • EUROPEAN UNION-SWAMP DEVELOPMENT PROJECT & TREE CROP REHABILITATION • CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES-SWAMP DEVELOPMENT PROJECT • UMCOR-EMERGENCY AGRICULTURE PROJECTS • UNOCHA-EMERGENCY AGRICULTURE PROJECTS

  12. VISION TO CREATE AN ALTERNATE INCOME SOURCE OF THE CHURCH, WHILE IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ITS MEMBERS AND OTHER LIBERIANS THROUGH TECHNICAL SKILLS AND APPROPRIATE AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY FOR INCREASE CASH CROP PRODUCTION, THEREBY CONTRIBUTING TO THE REALIZATION OF THE MISSION OF THE UMC; TO MAKE DESCIPLES FOR JESUS CHRIST THROUGH HOLISTIC MINISTRY

  13. MISSION • UMCAP IS COMMITTED TO SUSTAINED FOOD SECURITY AND AGRO-BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AS PART OF ITS HOLISTIC MINISTRY AT COMMUNITY LEVEL, REGARDLESS OF CREED AND RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION FOR THE TRANSFORMATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF HUMAN LIVES, SPIRITUALLY, SOCIALLY, AND ECONOMICALLY

  14. PROBLEM STATEMENT THE CIVIL CRISIS DEALT A SERIOUS BLOW TO ALL SECTORS OF LIBERIA INCLUDING AGRICULTURE. ALL PROGRAMS STARTED BY THE MISSIONARIES WERE EITHER DESTROYED OR LOOTED 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD SINCE THE WAR OFFICIALLY ENDED, NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED WITH CHALLENGES IN THE UMCAP PROGRAM IN LIBERIA

  15. PROBLEM STATEMENT CONT. • AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, FOOD AND CASH CROP PRODUCTION DECLINED AND STILL POSE A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR FOOD SECURITY UP TILL TODAY IN MANY VILLAGES, DISTRICTS AND HOUSEHOLDS

  16. REVIVING UMCAP IN LIBERIA • IN ORDER TO REVIVE THE AGRICULTURE PROGRAM MINISTRIES OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN LIBERIA…WE HAVE SET THE BELOW GOALS TARGET:

  17. GOALS 1. TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL SKILLS (APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY) TO LIBERIAN FARMERS, INCREASE THEIR FARM PRODUCTION AND AVOID LOST OF CROPS (POST HARVEST LOST) AND LAND PRESERVATION (THROUGH THE PREVENTION OF SOIL EROSION AND DESERT ENCROACHMENT).

  18. GOALS 2. TO PUT MORE OF THE CHURCH’S AGRICULTURAL LAND UNDER PRODUCTION TO PROVIDE INCOME FOR THE CONFERENCE AND CREATE JOBS FOR MEMBERS OF OUR CHURCH AND NON-METHODISTS (MOSTLY IN RURAL COMMUNITIES)

  19. GOALS 3. TO GENERATE REVENUE FOR THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE BUDGET AS WELL AS DISTRICTS CONFERENCES AND MISSION STATIONS. 4. TO WITNESS TO THE HEALING AND SAVING GRACE OF JESUS CHRIST THROUGH OUR CONTACTS WITH LIBERIAN FARMERS AND BUYERS, NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF SHARING THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD IN CHRIST, BUT TO ALSO IMPACT THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE IN PREACTICAL WAYS AS JESUS DID

  20. THE WAY FORWARD TO ENSURE MAXIMUM PRODUCTIVITY FOR CULTIVATING AT LEAST 50% OF OUR MORE THAN 2,800 HECTARES OR 7000 ACRES OF FARMLAND AS SPELLED OUT IN PLAN HEREIN ATTACHED DURING OUR FIVE YEAR DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES

  21. THEWAY FORWARD 2. EMBARK ON LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION, WITH EMPHASIS ON PIG, POULTRY, CATTLE, AND INLAND FISH FARMING AT LOCAL, DISTRICTS, AND CONFERENCE LEVELS BY THE YEAR 2015

  22. PRIORITYON RUBBER AND OIL PALM UMCAP’S PROGRAM FOR AGRICULTURE REHABILATATION WILL FOCUS ON RUBBER AND OIL AS PRIORITY CROPS TO ACCERLERATE INCOME GENERATION AND ENSURE SUSTAINABILITY OF INVESTMENT OVER THE LONG RUN

  23. RUBBER RUBBER IS ONE OF LIBERIA’S MOST IMPORTANT CASH CROP. TODAY IT COVERS A LAND SPACE OF AROUND 120 HECTARES OR 300,000 ACRES. IT REMAINS ONE MAJOR AREA OF INVESTMENT FOR MANY LIBERIANS AND FOREIGN CONCESSIONS

  24. RUBBER’S VALUE RUBBER HAS A HIGH ECONOMIC VALUE AS IT IS THE SOURCE OR RAW MATERIAL FOR MANY PRODUCTS INCLUDING TIRES, FOOTWEAR, CABLE INSULATORS, UTENSILS AND MORE. RUBBER MATURES IN 5-6 YEARS AND HAS A PRODUCTIVE LIFE SPAN OF 30-35 YEARS.

  25. RUBBER’S YEILD THE AVERAGE YEILD OF RUBBER IS BETWEEN 1500-2500 POUNDS PER ACRE PER ANNUM. AT CURRENT RATE, A TON OF UNPROCESSED RUBBER IS USD 1,150.00 ON THE LOCAL LIBERIAN MARKET

  26. OIL PALM OIL PALM HAS A TOTAL LAND COVERAGE OF 55,000 HECTARES WITH A PRODUCTION OF 27,000 TONS PER ANNUM. OUT OF THIS AMOUNT, 22,000 TONS WERE USED FOR DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION DURING PRE-WAR YEARS.

  27. OIL PALM YEILD OIL PALM COMES INTO PRODUCTION IN 4-5 YEARS AFTER TRANSPLANTING AND CONTINUE TO BEAR FRUITS FOR FIFTY YEARS. IT IS AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF OIL IN TROPICAL AFRICA AND HAS A HIGHER YEILD PER UNIT THAN ANY OTHER CASH CROP. THE PALM TREE IS ONE OF AFRICA’S MOST DIVERSIFIED SOURCE OF MANY DIFFERENT PRODUCTS.

  28. UMCAP’S APPEAL THE TREE IS A SYMBOL OF LIFE AND HOPE IT MUST BE CAREFULLY AND WONDERFULLY LOOKED AFTER TO ENSURE GOD’S PEOPLE LIVES ARE BETTER

  29. UMCAP IS WORKING FOR THE SOURCE OF HOPE AND BETTER LIVE FOR GOD’S PEOPLE WHICH IS THE TREE AS A SYMBOL OF AGRICULTURE; WE THEREFORE KINDLY REQUESTS YOUR CONTINUED ASSISTANCE IN CASH OR KIND FOR • FARM INPUTS (seeds, tools, fertilizers, breeding stocks, stumps, and seedlings) • TRANSPORTATION • TRAINING AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT and • TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

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