The Minister of Agriculture, Mrs. Amie Fabureh, has recently embarked on a trek to inspect Mixed Farming Centers (MFC) that are under construction as promised during the last farm equipment distribution across the country.
Places visited by the Minister and team were Pirang MFC (in West Coast Region), Jenoi MFC(Lower River Region), Dankunku (in Central River Region South-CRR/S), Mankamang Kunda MFC (Upper River Region), Kuntaur Fulla Kunda MFC (CRR/North) and Njayen Sanjal MFC (North Bank Region).
Madam Fabureh also during the trek, handed over 5t of foundation seeds to Wellingara Kejaw Yiriwa Seed Growers for multiplication and subsequent release to farmers, for production in the 2020 rainy season. She also visited a 30ha NSS rice multiplication site in Sapu, YBK [Yerro Bell Kunda] Livestock Centre and Sankule-Kunda rice field (CRR/S).
Among all the MFCs visited, Pirang had the best work. In Jenoi, some cracks were noticed on the back walls of buildings (around the windows), toilet doors were metals instead of the specified wooden, and tiles were also found to be of low quality.
In Dankunku and Mankamang Kunda MFCs, the corrugates of the newly rehabilitated seed store were riddled with holes. Also, the Water Irrigation Systems being constructed by Touray Kunda Company in Pirang, Jenoi, Dankunku and Makamang Kunda still have so much work to finish, while Kuntaur Fulla Kunda and Ngayen Sanjal where Pinnacle Construction Company operates, the water irrigation facilities (borehole and 80,000l Tanks) were almost ready.
At YBK Livestock center, the Minister also expressed satisfaction with the rehabilitation works of staff accomodation by the Kambeng Construction Company under the funding of the Small Ruminant Project.
At the Pump Irrigation rice production site in Sankulay kunda, the Agric Ministry head and her visiting team was amazed to meet the chief of the Area, Alh. Momodou Lamin Baldeh himself, on the ground, operating a power tiller in the field. Fabureh described Chief Baldeh as a model worth of emulation in the national crusade for food security.
The Governor of LRR, Madam Rohie John-Manjang and the Governor of CRR, Alh. Aba Sanyang, in welcoming the Minister, thanked her and the team. The duo said getting things done at the right time and in the right way is their concern, and would therefore, continue to support Minister Fabureh in every aspect. The LRR Governor said she would, together with the Regional Agricultural Director, closely monitor progress made in Jenoi Mixed Farming Center for a better result.
The female head of Lower Region Region used the opportunity to request, on behalf of the people of Madina Sancha, for the supply of fertiliser to them, disclosing that they were reliable and had ready cash to buy on spot.
Governor John-Manjang however, warned against smuggling fertilizer to Senegal, hinting of State Intelligence Service’s (SIS’) monitoring of such, and serious consequences awaiting the culprits. She further appealed for cool stores for the preservation of vegetables in the area, noting that post-harvest losses are affecting food security and women’s economic viability.
Governor Sanyang of CRR also expressed concern over lack of power tillers in his Region. Also, farmers of the visited MFC villages, in general, expressed gratitude for once again seeing the centers renovated for habitation and meaningful production. They pledged to give every support to the centers as they are meant for supporting their livelihoods and development in general.
The regional farmers hailed the country’s first-female Minister of Minister, for her relentless support from her time of being a Horticulture Director to the current position as head of that Ministry.
Mr. Yankuba Sonko of Pirang, extended gratitude to the Ministry for turning the centre from a “snake habitat” by fencing it, and called for the enclosure of the actual residence from the farm.
Mr. Ebrima Kasama requested for external tap as a support to the community.
Mrs. Mama Fatty, President of the Wellingara Yiriwa Seed Growers in receiving the seeds, saluted Madam Fabureh and the RVCTP management for the gesture. She vowed that seed production is their work and they are ever ready to live to every expectations.
President Fatty, however, expressed concern about the late arrival of the seeds and the unpredictable climate scenarios which undermines efforts of producing adequate and quality seeds. They also indicated access to fertilizer as their main problem.
Mrs. Suntukung Sanneh, a women leader at Maruo Farm in Pacharr said their livelihood depends on rice production and would therefore embrace anyone supporting that venture fully. She mentioned the blockage of irrigation canals as their main problem, noting that as many as 70 plots were under production with no secured water supply.
Speaking at the handing over event, the Regional Director, CRR South, Mr. Famara Trawally said the seeds were secured from Abijan, Ivory Coast as part of the Government’s effort to meet Rice self-sufficiency in the country. He said improved seeds were given to Wellingara because of the land and skills they were blessed with.
The Regional Director further told the famers that rice, groundnut and vegetables were the three identified crops in the National Development Plan (NDP).
At Maruo Farm in Pacharr, Trawally informed them that his office was fully aware of problems affecting them, including water. He said they knew the number and extent of canals needed. Already, they were able to reconstruct 7 km length through the help of FAO. Three of which is in Pachar and four in Jahally and many more would follow.
Mrs. Fatou Sambou, a gender advocate and Deputy Head of National Women Farmers Association (NAWFA) hailed the initiative of modernizing the MFCs as she witnessed in other countries.
Project Director Momodou Gassama of the National Agricultural Land and Water Management Development Project (Nema) project, in responding to the cool store request, indicated that plans for providing the facility for vegetable producers under Nema project, had now shifted to the incoming ROOTS Project which was planned to be launched in March 2020, but delayed due to Covid-19 pandemic outbreak.
Concerning delay and sometime poor works by some Gambian Contractors, Director Gassama expressed their frustration as project managers and resolve in opening up bids to non-Gambians for a better result.
Mr. Lamin KS Fatajo, Project Director for the Rice Value Chain Transformation Project noted that good seeds are necessary for production, because seeds naturally devalue over time. He emphasized the role of the National Research Institute (NARI) as researchers and producers of new seeds and the National Seed Secretariat (NSS) as the coordination and certification body of quality seeds.
Director Fatajo also dilated on the pivotal role played by farmer seed grower Associations as multipliers of foundation seeds for the larger farming population. He reassured farmers of his project’s annual support of quality seed for a better and productive production, at all times. Fatajo also told the Pacharr farmers that the objective of his project is to reduce the level of food importation so as to reduce government’s spending. He said his project brought seeds and the next (move) would be training as each given variety has its own specific requirements.
The Coordinator of the Central Projects Coordinating Unit (CPCU), Mr. Abdoulie Touray, averred that they knew marketing was ever a farmer’s constraint, and encouraging and supporting the Maruo Farm Manager, Mr. Musa Darboe and the likes, is a step in the right direction. He said the GCAV maintenance of Wellingara Milling Machine would be an opportunity for Musa to access milling while the RVCTP takes care of the Karmalo mill.
Mr. Ansuman Jarju, Regional Rice value Chain Development Project (RRVCDP) said the Pacharr field is always known in the country’s struggle for food self sufficiency. He lamented that 75% of Gambian food is imported from other countries.
Jarju encourages producers to plant at the right time using quality seed, promising that more support would reach them soon. He argued that production by space is important, but productivity per unit area, is more important.
Dr. Saikou E. Sanyang, Director General, Department of Agriculture said many plans were laid including the present Rice Value Chain Project. The objective, he pointed out, is to improve the production of the NDP targets; G/nut, rice and vegetables to enhance food security in the country. He thanked Musa for supporting farmers.
Dr. Sanyang emphasized the need to encourage the Gambian private sector as (is the case) in many other countries, adding that Agriculture is a key factor in ensuring food, health and income to reduce poverty.
DG Sanyang acknowledged the good works of the Regional Director and the team by serving the farmers. He observed that 80% of the food globally is produced by women. He finally urged farmers to take extension advice, noting that new technologies brought to them is often tested somewhere to prove its validity.
Speaking at various MFCs during the inspection, Hon. Fabureh expressed satisfaction about progress made by the Contractors, describing it as generally good.
However, she revealed that upon return to Banjul, her office would summon a meeting with the contractors concerned so that problems observed during the inspection tour could be quickly addressed. She underscored the importance of her visit, stating it enables her to have firsthand information on issues, in addition to reports written by staff.
The minister expressed concerns over delay in the water contracts, cautioning that handing over of the MFCs by the end of May 2020 would be impossible if correct water supply is not available for production.
The Agric Ministry boss urged the contractors concerned to try to do things on time as mentioned in the contract document. She added that with political will assured, she is certain there would be solution to fix problems identified.
As Fabureh told her audience, the reconstruction of the entire 27 MFCs would be ongoing; that so far, six (6) were completed, sic (6) are under construction while six (6) more were identified including Kiang Karantaba. She added that these centers would serve as a model for farming, source of information with all aspects of farm production, inter alia field crop, livestock and research.
The Ministry chief avowed that the revitalization of these centers would include equipping them with the necessary machineries like the seeders, tools and fertilizer, among others.
At the handing over ceremony of rice seeds to Wellingara Seed Growers Association in Sapo Agricultural Station, Minister Fabureh thanked the management of the RVCTP for providing quality seeds for multiplication by the Association and subsequent release to other farmers. She told the farmers that it’s the Government’s wish to provide food self-sufficiency in the country, of which quality seeds are a foundation. She reiterated her Ministry’s commitment to the farming community. The Minister further informed them that there are some fertilizers in the country that would be distributed soon to support their production.
About climate concerns, she reported that the National Seed Secretariat would be available to seed producers for Technical Advice. That, her office would further ensure that seed, fertilizer and other inputs reach the farmers on time.
