The United Methodist University (UMU), through its College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resource Management, is set to receive a grant of US$44,185 from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Smallholder Agriculture Transformation and Agribusiness Revitalization Project (STAR-P).
The grant aims to boost the capacity of smallholder farmers and enhance practical learning for students through demonstration farms, staff extension programs, and agribusiness training initiatives. STAR-P is a strategic collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and higher education institutions to promote agricultural education and community transformation.
Speaking to reporters, Kayode O. W. Shobayo, Assistant Dean of the College, highlighted the motivation behind the project.
“We identified a critical need—most farmers in our region lack designated sites to test and apply modern agricultural techniques. Our students face similar challenges when it comes to hands-on learning. This grant allows us to fill that gap by establishing demonstration sites that serve both groups,” he explained.
UMU’s portion of the project will be implemented on two hectares of farmland provided by the university in Gbarnga, Bong County. According to Shobayo, the cultivation plan includes one hectare dedicated to rice, half a hectare to maize (corn), and the remaining half hectare to assorted vegetables.
“We’ve already conducted a site layout, and the land is ready,” he said. “In fact, we have more than the required space, so if additional projects arise, we are prepared to offer more land.”
Beyond Bong County, UMU also intends to establish a vegetable demonstration site in Doemah Town, Margibi County. However, due to the availability of land and active farming in Gbarnga, part of the vegetable production will be shifted there.
Shobayo noted that the grant process is nearing completion. “We visited the Ministry of Agriculture and the STAR-P project office this week. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed, and the funding is expected to be disbursed by next week,” he revealed.
In preparation, the college’s project team is finalizing its implementation work plan, which will guide activities and timelines.
A local farmers’ cooperative in Gbarnga, comprising 25 to 30 farmers, is already on board to participate in the project. UMU also plans to engage additional farmers from surrounding areas including Doemah Town and potentially extend outreach toward the Roberts International Airport corridor and Boys Town.
“This is a revitalization of agricultural learning at UMU,” Shobayo emphasized. “Students will gain practical experience, be trained by professionals, and have the opportunity to produce and sell their own goods. The project also exposes students to agribusiness and agricultural extension services.”
He added, “Agriculture is a broad field—animal production, crop science, seed technology, and more. This program will help our students explore and define their professional paths within the sector.”
Alvin B. Jasper, Coordinator of the College, said the university’s engagement with STAR-P began early. “We started discussions under our previous leadership and participated in a Ministry of Agriculture seminar that laid the foundation for this partnership,” he said.
“We’ve now signed the MoU, and implementation activities are already underway,” Jasper confirmed.
