Bio-diversity

The production of rice, the staple food of our country and other countries within the sub-region of West Africa has fallen over the years. This is due to the type of farming and ecology we are using for our production activities. The system of rice farming we practice is upland which is practiced throughout the year depending on rainfall, but has over the years been impaired by change in climate. Most of the farmers resources are being used for these activities but little benefits are realized. Poor yield has forced farmers to abandon rice farming to such alternatives like mining of Gold and Diamonds, which they feel will bring quick returns to them. Because of this, the production of the staple food of rice has drastically fallen below the expected production level. This has led to the importation of rice from other countries at very high prices. Thus, over 75% of the income of the average Liberian is spent on purchasing rice. The alternative to this drastic fall in upland rice production as a result of climate change can only be solved through the adoption of swamp or lowland rice farming. This farming practice has the propensity to overturn this menace of low rice productivity and climate change, thus, resulting to higher yields. The contribution of swamp or lowland rice production using organic farming and reduced burning contributes to both increase rice production and reduction in the emission of green house gases that contributes to climate change. For these challenges as agriculturists, it is argued that swamp or lowland rice production activities can foster some solution to these problems of food insecurity and climate change effects.

Liberia