For farmers in Fornor Town and surrounding communities in Porkpa District, Grand Cape Mount County, cassava is more than a crop—it is becoming a pathway to stronger livelihoods, improved food security, and greater community participation in forest conservation.
On August 21, 2026, the Society for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia (SCNL), in partnership with local stakeholders, officially commissioned a modern cassava processing facility in Fornor Town. The facility was established under the three-year Communities for Conservation (C4C) Project, with support from the European Union (EU), to help communities living around the Gola Forest National Park increase the value of their agricultural production while reducing pressures on forest resources.
Valued at approximately US$15,000, the facility is equipped with cassava grinders, a peeling machine, filter, dryer, and bagging machine. These machines will allow farmers to move beyond selling raw cassava and begin producing marketable products such as gari, fufu, and other processed cassava products.
From Production to Value Addition
The investment comes after farmers under the C4C Project cultivated more than 25 hectares of degraded land with cassava. According to the project team, simply increasing cassava production was not enough. The next step was to ensure that farmers could process, package, and market their produce, creating additional income opportunities for households.
“Adding value” is therefore at the heart of the facility.
By processing cassava locally, farmers can reduce post-harvest losses, improve the quality of their products, extend shelf life, and access larger markets, including markets in Monrovia and other urban centers.
For SCNL, this approach reflects a broader conservation principle: communities are more likely to protect natural resources when sustainable livelihoods provide tangible benefits.
Conservation and Livelihoods Working Together
The facility is part of SCNL’s continued engagement with communities in the Gola landscape. SCNL Program Manager Michael E. Taire reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to working alongside residents of Porkpa District to sustainably manage their forest resources.
SCNL has worked with communities in the area since 2010, supporting efforts to improve forest management while promoting livelihood opportunities. The organization’s approach emphasizes partnership with communities rather than taking control of their forests.
The cassava initiative demonstrates how conservation and economic development can complement one another. When farmers have opportunities to earn income from sustainable agricultural activities, the economic incentive to depend on forest resources for their livelihoods can be reduced.
Building a Cooperative for Sustainability
Beyond providing equipment, the C4C Project is supporting the community to establish a farmer cooperative that will manage and sustain the processing facility.
The cooperative approach is intended to encourage farmers to work collectively, maintain the equipment, manage production, and develop stronger market opportunities. The community’s existing Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) will also contribute to strengthening collective economic action.
C4C Project Coordinator Jamesetta C. Barquoi emphasized that the facility was established for farmers to work together rather than individually, stressing that cooperation will be essential to maintaining the investment and achieving long-term benefits.
A New Chapter for Farmers
For farmers like Boakai Korgbe, a leader of the C4C Farmer Cooperative, the commissioning of the facility represents the culmination of years of encouragement and commitment.
Although some farmers did not remain involved throughout the process, those who persisted are now positioned to benefit from a facility that can transform their cassava from a raw agricultural commodity into a source of greater economic value.
The new facility is therefore more than a building filled with machines. It represents an investment in people, enterprise, food security, and conservation.
As the facility begins operations, SCNL and its partners hope that farmers in Fornor and surrounding communities will use the opportunity to build stronger businesses, increase household incomes, and contribute to the sustainable management of the Gola landscape.
The experience in Porkpa reinforces an important lesson: conservation can be strengthened when communities have viable alternatives that allow them to improve their livelihoods while protecting the forests they depend on.
