Attending the 3rd Ghana Cluster Conference was an eye-opening experience. The knowledge gained and the connections made are invaluable. We are excited to implement the best practices we learned to boost our production and market reach.

Since GROW-2 facilitated our participation in the maiden Made-in-ECOWAS Fair in Ghana, we were highly motivated through interactions with other entrepreneurs we met there. Since then, we have successfully launched two new tea varieties: hibiscus and ginger. Our customers love tea, and sales have been very strong. We’ve been busy meeting the growing demand and are excited about this success.

Our new, improved tomato seedlings are thriving, largely due to GROW-2’s support. The establishment of a demonstration farm and the training we received on managing seedlings at the nursery have helped protect them from heavy rains and pests. We expect this new variety to improve livelihoods and contribute significantly to the economic growth of smallholder farmers in the Phillip Farm community.

The training provided by GROW-2 was an eye-opener. The EUDR is a complex regulation, but the trainers broke it down in a way that was easy to understand and highly relevant to our work. This knowledge will be invaluable as we strive to align our operations with international standards and ensure that our commodities meet the EUDR requirements.

The MSMEs clinic organized by GROW-2 was a very important event. In my role overseeing marketing for businesses at the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, focusing on locally produced products, I found the networking opportunities particularly valuable. I believe GROW-2 is fostering a supportive community of MSMEs that will thrive because of the insights gained.

The partnership between GROW-2 and Nimba Women has been immensely beneficial in establishing the cassava nursery at our cooperative. GROW-2 introduced us to a diverse range of cassava varieties, each with specific names that we have documented. Understanding these varieties helps us anticipate their expected yields and taste profiles, which is crucial for our gari production process. This knowledge empowers us to identify which cassava varieties are likely to command better prices, enabling us to share improved cassava cuttings with other farmers.

The management training organized by GROW-2 for LVSA was an eye-opener for me. I learned not only about effective leadership, but also how to better motivate my team. I now feel more confident in my role and am excited to implement the knowledge and skills I’ve gained.

GROW-2 is one of the few projects that truly recognizes the crucial role our association plays in the vegetable sector and has consistently collaborated with us to strengthen our impact. Understanding our need to build capacity, the project is actively supporting our efforts to enhance the competence of our team and members in effectively leading and managing the association. Through this partnership, we are optimistic that our structures in Monrovia and across the country will become stronger and better equipped to serve our members. Additionally, with GROW-2’s support, we are advancing fair trade practices, an essential step toward building greater trust between the association and the farmers we represent.

We want to extend our appreciation to GROW-2 for their commitment to ensuring farmers' success in their farming activities. Sometimes, despite putting in our best efforts, our yields still fall short compared to those of farmers in other African countries like Guinea, Ghana, and Ivory Coast. Maybe it's the soil—but we're not certain. With the results from the soil sample analysis GROW-2 has conducted on our farms and bushes, we will finally understand the root cause of our crops' low performance. This will help us take corrective action and, hopefully, increase our yields.

Participating in the maiden Made-in-ECOWAS Fair in Accra was a truly enriching experience. Throughout the week, we gained valuable insights from both the workshop sessions and the product exhibition. The event provided excellent networking opportunities and allowed us to build meaningful business relationships with a range of stakeholders across the region. We also learned from fellow entrepreneurs about innovative approaches to product design and the promising role the ECOWAS sub-region can play in advancing food security. We are deeply grateful to the GROW-2 project for giving three Liberian MSMEs the opportunity to be part of such a significant event.

Before working with GROW-2, no other project considered us valuable enough to drive all the way to our village. But today, through our partnership with the project, we are now being recognised. To have a representative from the Embassy of Sweden visiting makes us feel very special. Seeing the international expert gives us hope that one day our cocoa will be on the international market.

No other organization recognized us or was willing to work with us, simply because we are women with limited resources and experience in growing vegetables. But the GROW-2 project saw our determination and chose to partner with us. Through this partnership, we have learned so much and are now more confident in growing vegetables not just to sell on the market, but also to help feed our families.