"We are not responsible for the past," President Boakai told officials and diplomats gathered at the handover ceremony in Careyburg. "Our promise is to ensure that you have them now."
The donation, delivered by Chinese Ambassador Yin Chengwu on behalf of Beijing, represents a pivotal push under President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda to transition Liberia from subsistence farming to mechanization. The equipment package lands in a country long reliant on food imports despite its fertile soil, where past development projects frequently stalled due to poor maintenance and lack of technical follow-through. Acknowledging these systemic gaps, President Boakai issued a firm directive to the Ministry of Agriculture: the machinery must produce measurable harvests rather than serve as backdrop for ceremonial photo opportunities.
"When people give you gifts, the appreciation is not ceremonial; it is for them to see results," President Boakai warned. "I have lived long enough to listen to plenty talk; but what I want to see is action."
To ensure operational continuity, Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah disclosed that the ministry has created 13 mechanization hubs across Bong, Nimba, Lofa, Margibi, Montserrado, and Bomi counties, with plans to expand into the southeastern region. A cohort of 130 young Liberians has begun a 40-day intensive technical training program led by six Chinese specialists to operate and maintain the fleet. The ministry is also finalizing a public-private management model with the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission to lease the equipment to local farmers at affordable rates, ensuring the machinery remains functional for years to come.
