Published: February 13, 2026
BOMI COUNTY — An independent verification effort in Bomi County has found mixed evidence behind President Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s claim that more than 198,000 farmers nationwide benefited from government agricultural support in 2025.
In his Third State of the Nation Address, the president said thousands of farmers received assistance through Ministry of Agriculture programs. But field interviews conducted over three weeks across multiple farming communities in Bomi reveal that while at least one farmer confirmed receiving substantial support, several others reported receiving none.
Confirmed Support
Kalil Dukuly, chief executive officer of Dukuly International Agriculture Company, confirmed that his farm benefited from government-backed interventions, including the construction of a greenhouse, installation of a solar-powered water pump, and the provision of seeds and fertilizers through the STAR-P and SynPhone agricultural programs.
Speaking in Klay District No. 2, Dukuly said his farm has since partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture to provide practical training to farmers from Bomi, Gbarpolu and Margibi counties.
The training covers nursery management, land preparation, fertilizer application, pest control and post-harvest handling. Dukuly said the initiative has operated for nearly a year but warned that inconsistent funding could jeopardize its sustainability.
While acknowledging the assistance, he said additional interventions are needed to expand productivity, including the establishment of a cold storage facility to reduce post-harvest losses.
“We need sustained support,” Dukuly said, calling for subsidies on fertilizers and improved seeds to make inputs more affordable.
Dukuly cultivates approximately six acres of vegetables and has established a retail outlet in Monrovia to sell fresh produce directly to consumers. He said he has invested more than $250,000 in farm development since entering agriculture in 2005, supporting wages and local employment.
Farmers Left Out
However, interviews with several other farmers across Bomi County painted a different picture.
Multiple farmers said they did not receive assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture in 2025 and expressed surprise at the national beneficiary figure cited in the president’s address.
Some reported relying on private loans to sustain operations amid rising input costs.
“We have not seen that support here,” one farmer in the county said, requesting anonymity due to concerns about reprisals.
Farmers interviewed called for distribution of basic agricultural tools — including wheelbarrows, watering cans, fertilizers and power tillers — along with grant support to improve productivity.
Verification Gaps
The investigation did not independently verify how the 198,000 national beneficiary figure was calculated or whether a county-by-county breakdown exists. It also remains unclear what criteria the Ministry of Agriculture uses to define a beneficiary under its programs.
STAR-P, one of the programs referenced by Dukuly, is a donor-supported agricultural initiative designed to improve productivity and commercialization, while other interventions are implemented directly through ministry channels.
The findings in Bomi highlight both the presence of targeted support in specific cases and apparent disparities in access among farmers within the same county.
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