Jungle Farm, Lower Margibi County — The Christian Revival Church Association (CRCA) is broadening its agricultural footprint in Jungle Farm Community, cultivating over ten acres of swamp land for rice production while also managing orange and pineapple farms. These efforts are part of the church’s mission to contribute to God’s work, feed the nation, and align with government of President Joseph Boakai’s ARREST agenda for food security and self-sufficiency.
The initiative, envisioned by Bishop T. Dennis Agery, reflects CRCA’s commitment to empowering communities through agriculture and buttress government rice production agenda. “
We have already planted rice on three and half acres of the targeted landscape,” said Mr. Ramsy M. Ballah, Farm Manager of the CRCA Agriculture Program. “Our first harvest season will take place in October this year, and we are optimistic about the outcome.”
Mr. Ballah emphasized the broader vision: “The cultivation of rice is to improve food security and contribute to efforts that will reduce the reliance of Liberians largely on foreign rice importation.”
Beyond rice, CRCA’s orange and pineapple farms are flourishing, adding diversity to the church’s agricultural program. “These farms are not just about crops,” Bishop Dennis T. Agery, head of the CRCA Church in West Africa noted. “They are about fulfilling God’s work by helping to feed the nation and supporting the President’s ARREST agenda.”
The rice farm has already created jobs for the local community. “We have employed about ten persons on short-term contracts,” Mr. Ballah revealed. “With the help of government and other donor partners, we plan to employ more Liberians, especially young people and women, to expand our farming activities.”
Diversifying agriculture program
Looking ahead, CRCA plans to diversify further. “When the swamp rice is harvested during the dry season, we will plant other vegetables,” Mr. Ballahexplained. “This will ensure year-round farming activity and provide more food options for Liberians.”
The church also hopes to strengthen ties with the Ministry of Agriculture. “We want the Minister to see firsthand what CRCA agriculture program is doing in terms of supporting the government through agriculture,” Mr. Ballah explained. “We will use the Minister’s visit if he comes to build concrete alignment with the Agriculture Ministry and seek technical and material support.”
Farm Technician Patrick F. Tamba Khomason highlighted the practical needs for expansion. “We need more farm implements such as power tillers, rice mills, and irrigation tools to expand our work,” he said. “With the right equipment, we can increase production, create jobs, and make a bigger impact on food security.”
“We have the potential to feed this part of Liberia if the government of Liberia through the Agriculture Ministry collaborate with us to build some strong activities here.”
As Liberia continues to push for local rice production, CRCA’s integrated farming approach — combining swamp rice with fruit cultivation and seasonal vegetables — stands as a model of faith-driven development. With the October harvest approaching, the church’s agricultural program is poised to make a meaningful contribution to both community livelihoods and national self-reliance.
