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The regional agricultural co-ordinator (RAC) for Western Region, Mr. Ebrima M.L. Saidy, has said that the prerequisite of efficient and economic paddy production is adequate control of drainage and irrigation throughout the season. Mr. Saidy made these statements while giving lectures on water management in irrigated rice in a three-day in service training session for subject matter specialists (SMS) under the department of extension services held in Jenoi on recently.

According to Mr. Saidy, drainage and irrigation systems cannot be based on average conditions. They must be designed to supply adequate water during seasonal shortages and to drain sufficiently rapidly in periods of excessive rain.

"In Japan a saving of 18% can be made with little detrimental or adverse affect on yield, by draining the field for ten days between late tilling and flowering," he added.

For his part, Mr. Ousman Colley Sapu, extension supervisor also talked about agronomic and cultural practices in rice production. He laid special emphasis on land selection and preparation, seed selection and storage nursery establishment, leveling and transplanting, weeding and thinning, top dressing and fertilizer application and management. He also talked about pest and disease management, harvesting and post harvesting.

Mr. Lamin Jarju the senior planner discussed about data collection and management which, he said, is where information is provided through the extension workers to the farmers. He said data collection can be used for planning, monitoring and valuation, strategic intervention measures and consultant reports.

According to him, subject matter specialists (SMS) need good knowledge and skills on how to collect data because proper and accurate databases can determine what is what and what to do.

In his closing remarks, the assistant director of extension services, Mr. Falalo M. Touray, said the participants showed maximum commitment dedication and participation during the three-day session. He reminded the participants that the training was to enhance their professional capacities for best service delivery. He then urged them to disseminate the knowledge and skills obtained to the farmers.