AICAT, ISRAEL—When Josiah Pailay left his hometown of Kowai Town in Kpaai District, Bong County, nearly a year ago, he carried with him a dream rooted in agriculture, education, and service. Today, that dream has taken a significant step forward.
By Nukanah Kollie/ kollienukanah94@gmail.com
On June 4, 2026, Pailay graduated with an Advanced Diploma in Modern Agriculture from the Arava International Center for Agricultural Training (AICAT) in Israel, completing an intensive eleven-month academic and practical training program that brought together students from across Africa, Asia, and other parts of the world.
For the young Liberian journalist, agriculture student, and community advocate, the graduation represents far more than an academic achievement. It symbolizes a journey from humble beginnings in rural Bong County to one of the world’s most innovative agricultural training centers, and a renewed commitment to helping transform Liberia’s agricultural sector.
“I am returning home with a renewed mind about agricultural technology, innovation, and sustainable development. My commitment remains to serve Liberia through agriculture, education, journalism, and community development,” Pailay said shortly after the graduation ceremony.
Born and raised in Kowai Town, a farming community in Kpaai District, Bong County-Liberia Pailay understands firsthand the challenges and opportunities that exist within Liberia’s agricultural sector. His upbringing in a rural environment helped shape his passion for farming and community development, while his academic and professional pursuits have strengthened his determination to become an agent of change.
Before traveling to Israel, Pailay had already established himself as a respected voice in agricultural and development journalism. He currently serves as a reporter with Super Bongese Radio in Gbarnga and previously worked as a reporter and presenter with Radio Paraclete, operated by the Catholic Diocese. Through his reporting, he has consistently highlighted stories about farmers, food security, youth empowerment, environmental protection, and rural development.
His dedication to agricultural communication has also earned him recognition among his peers. He is an active and outstanding member of the Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalists Network (LAEJN) and a member of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ), where he continues to promote agriculture-centered journalism and development reporting.
At the same time, Pailay remains committed to academic growth. He is a junior student in the College of Agriculture at Bong County University, where he has been pursuing studies in General Agriculture while combining classroom learning with practical field experience and journalism.
His journey to Israel was made possible through Bong County University’s participation in the international agricultural training initiative offered by AICAT. Founded in 1994 and located in Sapir in Israel’s Arava Desert, AICAT provides practical agricultural education and hands-on farm training for students from developing countries, equipping them with modern skills and technologies to improve agricultural productivity and food security in their home countries.
During the eleven-month program, Pailay studied irrigation technology, greenhouse management, crop production, soil and water management, plant protection, agribusiness development, post-harvest management, sustainable agriculture, and agricultural entrepreneurship. Working directly on Israeli farms, he witnessed how innovation, research, and technology have transformed arid desert landscapes into highly productive agricultural enterprises.
For Pailay, the experience extended beyond agriculture. Living and studying alongside students from countries including Liberia, Malawi, Nepal, Indonesia, Thailand, and several others provided opportunities for cultural exchange, networking, and the sharing of agricultural solutions from different parts of the world.
The graduation ceremony also marked a proud achievement for Bong County University and Liberia as a whole. More than 23 students from Bong County University successfully graduated from the AICAT program, joining over 1,500 graduates from around the world who completed the 2025–2026 training cycle.
The graduates successfully completed a rigorous combination of classroom instruction and practical internships focused on modern agriculture, irrigation systems, agricultural technologies, crop production, and farm management. Throughout the program, they acquired valuable skills designed to enhance agricultural productivity and contribute to food security initiatives in their respective countries.
During the ceremony, the Liberian graduates expressed appreciation to AICAT, their instructors, farm supervisors, and supporters who guided them throughout the training. They also extended special thanks to AICAT Liberia Coordinator Jacob B. Dennis and the administration of Bong County University for creating opportunities for students to gain international exposure and practical agricultural education.
Among the many accomplishments Pailay achieved during his time as an agriculture student and communicator, several stand out as defining moments in his professional development.
One notable achievement was winning a photography competition themed “A Day in the Life of an AICAT Student.” The competition challenged participants to visually document the realities of student life within the agricultural training program. Pailay’s winning entry was praised for authentically capturing daily agricultural activities, practical field experiences, and student engagement. The recognition highlighted not only his creativity but also his ability to tell compelling agricultural stories through visual communication.
In addition to his accomplishments in journalism and storytelling, Pailay has continued to build practical agricultural skills. Prior to his departure for Israel, he earned a training certificate in honey and beef production through a program organized by Moshav Liberia in Suakoko District, Bong County. The training provided hands-on experience in apiculture and livestock production while exposing participants to cooperative farming models and sustainable agricultural practices.
Those experiences strengthened his understanding of agriculture from both a practical and communication perspective, enabling him to better interpret and report on issues affecting farmers and rural communities.
Friends, colleagues, and fellow students describe Pailay as a hardworking young professional whose unique combination of agricultural knowledge and journalism skills has positioned him as an emerging leader in agricultural communication. His work has consistently focused on bridging the gap between farmers, researchers, policymakers, and communities through accurate and impactful storytelling.
As he prepares to return to Liberia this week, Pailay does so with more than an internationally recognized diploma. He returns with practical experience, global exposure, professional networks, and a deeper understanding of how technology and innovation can improve agricultural production.
His goal is to share the knowledge gained in Israel with farmers, students, agricultural institutions, and communities across Liberia while promoting climate-smart agriculture, modern irrigation systems, agribusiness development, and sustainable farming practices.
From the fields of Kowai Town to the deserts of Israel, Josiah Pailay’s story demonstrates the power of education, determination, and opportunity. It is a journey that reflects both personal achievement and a broader vision for Liberia’s agricultural future.
As Liberia seeks to modernize its agricultural sector and empower a new generation of agricultural professionals, Pailay returns home prepared to play his part, using agriculture, journalism, and education as tools for national development and food security.
For the young man from Kowai Town, the graduation ceremony may have marked the end of one chapter, but it is also the beginning of a new mission: helping build a more productive, resilient, and food-secure Liberia.
