RDFI Donates Toyota Hilux Pickup and 16 Motorcycles to RPAL to Boost Rubber Sector
Todee District, Monteserrado County
June 5, 2026
Todee District, Montserrado County – The Rubber Development Fund Incorporated (RDFI) has donated a Toyota Hilux pickup truck and sixteen motorcycles to the Rubber Planters Association of Liberia (RPAL) in a significant move aimed at revitalizing Liberia’s rubber sector and strengthening support services to smallholder rubber farmers across the country.
The presentation ceremony, held at RPAL’s headquarters in Todee District, Montserrado County, brought together key stakeholders from the rubber industry, government officials, local authorities, and beneficiaries from several counties. Among those attending were RDFI Board Chairperson Tokpah J. Mulbah, RDFI Executive Director William Johnson, RDFI Board Vice Chair John Howard, Todee District Superintendent Emmanuel David, the District Commissioner, RPAL President Wilhelmina G. Mulbah Siaway, and RPAL Vice President Bannie Browne.
The Toyota Hilux pickup truck is intended for use by RPAL’s head office project field team, while the sixteen motorcycles will be assigned to newly recruited field supervisors and technicians serving rubber farmers across eight counties: River Cess, Sinoe, Maryland, Grand Kru, River Gee, Grand Gedeh, Grand Cape Mount, and Lofa.
Presenting the vehicle and motorcycles, RDFI Board Chairperson Tokpah J. Mulbah said the donation reflects the Fund’s commitment to rebuilding and modernizing Liberia’s rubber sector through increased support to smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of the industry.
According to Mulbah, the motorcycles will strengthen field outreach and extension services, particularly in remote communities where farmers often face challenges accessing improved planting materials, technical guidance, and other support services necessary to improve productivity.
“Our goal is to empower smallholder rubber farmers who struggle to compete with larger farmers or plantation owners. We must support the sector by equipping you, the technicians, with the tools and knowledge needed to improve small farms across the country,” Mulbah stated.
He encouraged the newly recruited field supervisors and technicians to utilize the motorcycles to strengthen rubber development activities throughout Liberia, especially among smallholder farmers. He further expressed confidence that the ongoing interventions and support being provided to rubber farmers would contribute significantly to increased production and improved livelihoods over the next decade.
Receiving the equipment on behalf of the association, RPAL President Wilhelmina G. Mulbah Siaway expressed profound gratitude to RDFI, its Board of Directors, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, and the Government of Liberia for their continued commitment to the growth and development of the rubber sector.
She noted that the donation would significantly improve the mobility and effectiveness of county supervisors and technicians, enabling them to better serve rubber farmers across the country.
“We have observed that smallholder farmers face various limitations. We urge you technicians to ensure that farmers receive and plant improved rubber varieties,” Madam Mulbah-Siaway said.
She urged field supervisors and technicians to reach farmers in the most remote communities and provide them with the knowledge and technical support necessary to improve rubber planting practices. Describing the newly recruited field personnel as RPAL ambassadors, she called on them to work diligently in advancing the mission and objectives of the association.
Madam Mulbah-Siaway emphasized that RPAL remains committed to improving the livelihoods of smallholder rubber farmers while continuing to support larger producers who contribute to the sector’s growth and sustainability.
Speaking at the ceremony, RPAL Vice President Bannie Browne described the donation as a testament to the strong partnership and collaboration between RPAL and RDFI. He noted that the initiative demonstrates a shared commitment to strengthening Liberia’s rubber industry and improving the welfare of farmers nationwide.
For his part, Todee District Superintendent Emmanuel David commended both RDFI and RPAL for the initiative and thanked them for making the work of rubber technicians easier through the provision of the motorcycles and vehicle.
He expressed confidence that the equipment would greatly enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of field supervisors and technicians and ultimately improve smallholder rubber farming activities across Liberia.
The Commissioner of Todee District also expressed heartfelt appreciation to RDFI for the support, describing the donation as a timely intervention that will improve the mobility of county technicians and strengthen service delivery to rubber farmers in rural communities.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the RDFI Board, Vice Chair John Howard described the occasion as a historic milestone for Liberia’s rubber sector.
“This is a historic day in the lives of rubber planters, farmers, and every Liberian involved in rubber production. It represents the largest donation ever made in the history of rubber development in Liberia,” Howard declared.
He thanked rubber farmers across the country for their resilience and contributions to the industry and acknowledged the support of the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.
Howard further praised the foresight of the RDFI Board in prioritizing the interests of farmers and ensuring that resources are directed toward improving field operations and extension services. He also congratulated RDFI Executive Director William Johnson for his leadership and dedication to advancing the objectives of the Fund.
The RDFI Vice Chair cautioned beneficiaries to use the Toyota Hilux pickup and motorcycles solely for their intended purpose, emphasizing that proper management and maintenance of the equipment will ensure long-term benefits for rubber farmers and the sector as a whole.
The donation is widely regarded as one of the most significant investments in support of Liberia’s rubber sector in recent years. Stakeholders believe the vehicle and motorcycles will strengthen extension services, improve outreach to farmers in hard-to-reach communities, and accelerate efforts to modernize rubber production, particularly among smallholder farmers who remain the backbone of Liberia’s rubber industry.
