By Mamadou Edrisa Njie
The President of Rice Farmers Co-operative Society of Jahally and Pacharr in the Central River Region South (CCR/S), Mr. Haruna Gassama, has brushed aside the sentiment that Gambian youth are lazy. Maintaining that they are not lazy, he argued that, “all what they need is finance, coaching and mentoring to become productive citizens”.
In an interview with Mansa Banko Online, Gassama disclosed that many young people are working in the Jahally and Pacharr rice fields, and they are the ones feeding their families.
The head of Rice Farmers Co-operative Society advised: “If we want to stop the importation of rice in this country, it’s not mere pronouncements from either the government or private sector that can make it happen, but delivering services like access to finance, training and patronizing-buying of local grown rice and consuming it.”
As Gassama pointed out, in the Jahally and Pacharr rice fields, young people, including young girls, between the ages 18 and 35 years are leading the labour force.
He posited that the government of the day needs to look into agricultural commercialization by supporting farmers with quality seeds, fertilizer and training programmes on modern farming.
“We all know that the government cannot do it alone and it needs the partnership of the private sector; but for the private sector to support the agricultural sectors, the private sector also needs financing,” remarked Gassama.
He observed that the number of men and women doing farming at the Jahally and Pacharr rice fields, is “growing older every day”. Therefore, he said they need to entice the young ones to take up farming as a profession so as to feed the nation with homegrown rice.
For the youth of Central River Region South, he said, “I must commend them because they are hard-working youth who are feeding their families.”
On addressing irregular migration, the Co-operative Society President opined that the agricultural sector could play a great role, if it’s modernized.
He also suggested that agricultural projects in the country need to unlock the potentials of youth who are working on rice production in his region, and provide them with financial support and training. These, he outlined, should include coaching, mentoring as well as regional and international visits to expose them to new learning opportunities that could be replicated in The Gambia.
Gassama is of the settled view that, with adequate financing and technical support to farmers, in years to come the importation of rice “will dramatically reduce” as the country heavily depends on consuming imported rice.
Gassama used the interview to acknowledge the efforts of the government in providing fertilizer, seeds and other farming inputs to Gambian farmers.
He also commended financial institutions working with farmers, and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Banjul office, for the support they are giving to Gambian farmers.
