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"Gambia's Food Self Sufficiency Dream is Attainable" - James Tsay

Dec 29, 2008, 6:44 AM | Article By: Nfamara Jawneh

The head of the Taiwanese Technical Mission in The Gambia, Mr James Tsay, has said that the dream of the country attaining food self-sufficiency can indeed become a reality.

Speaking in an interview with this reporter yesterday, the Taiwanese Agricultural expert said that it is just a matter of time before the country can attain food security and sufficiency.

According to the expert, the country has a great potential to feed herself. He sighted the fresh water, vast land and sound agricultural policies as the potential that the country is endowed with.

"It is possible for The Gambia to achieve this dream but it needs more resources ranging from well trained personnel, tractors and fertiliser among other things," he said.

Mr Tsay also sighted the current catch phrase extorting all Gambians to take up farming of some sort ascribed to the Gambian leader as laudable and the only way of helping the country feed herself.

"We have to work together to attain this wonderful objective,"  he said, adding that the mission he led, came to The Gambia in November 1995 with the aim of assisting the country in food production and poverty reduction.

As of now, he added, they have cultivated a land area of 1,069 hectares in both the northern and southern parts of the Central River Region. He said that they are also involved in upland irrigation and acquaculture. He also sighted their involvement in horticulture through which they help farmers with the best agricultural techniques.