Liberia launches US$300,000 cold storage facility in Nimba to reduce food waste

LIBERIA – A new cold storage unit has opened in Whenlenle, Nimba County, bringing hope to hundreds of vegetable farmers in one of Liberia’s most productive growing regions.

The facility, developed through the Ministry of Agriculture’s Rural Economic Transformation Project (RETRAP), was funded by a US$300,000 loan from the World Bank.

The facility is located along the busy Ganta–Monrovia Highway, making it accessible for farmers transporting their goods to larger markets. Built from a 40-foot container, it offers 77 cubic meters of cold storage space.

The unit runs on a 15kVA solar system, supported by a 20kVA generator to ensure uninterrupted cooling, even during power outages. Alongside the facility, RETRAP has also introduced a vegetable transport van that can carry up to four tons of produce.

Gala Toto, National Program Coordinator for RETRAP, said the idea came to him after witnessing the struggles of farmers along the route.

“Each time I traveled this route, I saw farmers working through the night, loading trucks with cabbages,” he explained. “I wondered – why not support them by providing cold storage to preserve their produce for market sales?”

Addressing post-harvest losses

The new storage unit aims to reduce the high levels of post-harvest losses suffered by Liberian farmers. According to recent figures, vegetable losses can reach 30 to 40 percent due to poor handling and lack of refrigeration.

Perishable fruits like mangoes and tomatoes also spoil quickly, with losses estimated between 25 and 35 percent. The lack of cold chain systems has long been a problem, causing produce to rot before it reaches buyers.

Assistant Agriculture Minister Folton Blasin, speaking at the opening, urged farmers to take ownership of the facility.

“Use this facility wisely for the benefit of your community and yourselves,” he said. “Your collaboration will make this site vibrant and profitable. A lot of money has been invested; it’s now up to you to ensure that investment has a lasting impact.”

Community ownership and responsibility

Farmers from nearby villages welcomed the new development, calling it a much-needed solution. Mr. Ezekiel Sayetee, who chairs the “Say No to Hunger Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative Society,” called on fellow farmers to protect the facility.

“We are truly grateful for this facility,” he said. “It’s not just for our village, but for all farmers from Nengbein to Beila involved in vegetable production. If we are serious about achieving food security in Liberia, we must take good care of this facility. We promise that this place will never go dry.”

The Ministry of Agriculture says this project is part of a broader plan to improve market access, food quality, and farmer incomes across the country.

With the new cold storage site now operational, farmers in Nimba have a better chance of getting their crops to market fresh and on time.

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