About us
Growing Liberia.
Gahiza Farms was born from a dream of coming home, investing in Liberia and building something that could create opportunities for generations to come.
Established in 2019 near Bong Mines in Margibi County, Liberia, Gahiza Farms Ltd. is a Liberian-owned agricultural enterprise built around a simple belief: agriculture can be a powerful engine for economic transformation.
Today, we are developing a diversified agricultural operation spanning tree crops, field crops, livestock and aquaculture, while working toward a future where productive farming and responsible stewardship of the land go hand in hand.
Two People. One Decision To Come Home.
At the heart of Gahiza Farms are Deo and Joanna Gahiza, whose journey brought together a deep connection to agriculture, years of experience abroad and a desire to invest that experience back home in Liberia.
Deo Gahiza
FounderFarming has always been part of Deo's life. He grew up in Liberia around his parents' poultry, cattle and vegetable farms, with agriculture shaping his understanding of land, animals, hard work and livelihoods from an early age.
Joanna Gahiza
Co-FounderTogether with Deo, Joanna shares the vision of returning home, investing in Liberia and building an agricultural enterprise that creates lasting value for families, workers and communities.
We Could Have Stayed Away.
After many years of working, building businesses and raising their family in Canada, Deo and Joanna began thinking seriously about what their future would look like.
They asked themselves what they could build when the time came to return home. They did not want to simply retire. They wanted to return as entrepreneurs, investors and employers, bringing knowledge, experience and resources back to Liberia.
Agriculture felt like the natural answer. For Deo, it was a return to something that had been part of his life since childhood.
The Land Was Waiting For A New Beginning.
When we first acquired the land, it was bare and degraded, with very little of the tree cover we wanted to see in the future of the farm.
We saw more than land that could be cultivated. We saw an opportunity to build an agricultural enterprise while also changing the landscape around it.
That meant starting with the land we had, learning from it and gradually investing in a farm that could become more productive, more resilient and more environmentally responsible over time.
We Started With Cocoa.
Our first major agricultural ambition was cocoa. Having lived in Ghana and seen the importance of cocoa to families, communities and national economies, we believed cocoa could also become an important part of Liberia's agricultural future.
We planted cocoa and plantain and began investing in the farm with the hope of building something productive for the long term.
But the land had another lesson waiting for us.
Then Came The Drought.
The first major cocoa and plantain planting did not go as planned. Severe drought affected the farm, resulting in major crop losses and significant financial setbacks.
It was one of the hardest moments in our journey. We had invested in the land, planted with hope and watched much of that first effort disappear.
We Changed The Way We Thought About The Farm.
The answer was not to give up. It was to adapt.
We began to understand that productive agriculture and environmental responsibility had to be considered together. The land needed trees. The farm needed greater resilience. The soil needed protection.
We changed our approach, planted trees, diversified the farm and continued investing rather than walking away from the opportunity we had come home to pursue.
From What We Found To What We Are Building.
Restoration is not something we only talk about. The landscape itself is part of our story. These photographs show the transformation taking place as we continue planting, developing the farm and increasing tree and vegetation cover.
Before
Today
From A Difficult Season To A New Direction.
Our experience with cocoa changed the way we approached agriculture. We diversified and began developing oil palm as a major part of the farm's future.
We established an oil palm nursery and have planted approximately 250 acres of oil palm. The plantation is still young, but it represents an important step in the long-term development of Gahiza Farms.
We Are Building More Than A Farm.
For us, agriculture is a means of creating opportunity. We want Gahiza Farms to contribute to food production, employment, local business and stronger communities while demonstrating that economic development and environmental responsibility can work together.
Creating Jobs
Building meaningful employment opportunities for Liberians as the farm and its agricultural activities continue to grow.
Empowering Women
Creating opportunities for women to participate in agriculture and build greater economic independence.
Building Communities
Contributing to local economies through agricultural investment, employment and future business opportunities.
Investing In Liberia
Bringing knowledge, experience and resources back home and investing them in Liberia's agricultural future.
We Don't Want To Simply Take From The Land.
We want to leave the land better than we found it. That means looking beyond a single harvest and thinking about the soil, water, trees, biodiversity, climate resilience and the generations that will come after us.
- Sustainable Agriculture
- Eco-Friendly Farming
- Climate-Smart Agriculture
- Agroforestry
- Reforestation
- Responsible Oil Palm Development
- Water Protection
- Biodiversity Conservation
- Responsible Land Management
- Responsible Labour Practices
We Believe The Story Is Only Beginning.
Gahiza Farms is still at an early stage, but our ambition extends far beyond today's crops. We envision a modern Liberian agricultural company involved in production, processing, value addition, agroforestry and reforestation.
We want to build a farm where productive agriculture, permanent tree cover, responsible land management, employment and community opportunity can exist together.
Going Back Home.
We planted. We lost crops. We experienced drought. We learned. We changed. We planted again. We planted trees. We diversified. And we kept moving forward.
Growing Liberia. Restoring Our Land. Building Our Legacy.