Food
and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Maruo Farms and Supersonicz on Wednesday 11
December 2019 signed a year pilot project agreement with 200 rice value chain
farmers from Jahally Pacharr rice field at Microfinance training centre in
Brikamaba, Central River Region.
The
agreement, targeting 100 hectares will see the said organisations provide the
farmers with technical support, advice, capacity building, input support,
seeds, fertilizer, ploughing of plots, business and financial training as well
as buy their produce after harvest to ensure the sustainability of the project.
Speaking
to reporters shortly after the signing of the agreement, Musa Darboe,
CEO/Founder Maruo Farms, said he intends to connect farmers to financial
institutions knowing that the major problems in the agriculture sector is not
only access to finance but also ensure they adhere to best agronomical
practices to reduce the labor hours they spend on farms. It is also to ensure
they get higher yield than they used to, thus make farming more profitable.
He
remarked that The Gambia is a small country and it should not be hard to
achieve food self sufficiency with proper land development, right equipment,
high yield varieties, right agronomical practices. He projected three seasons per year in five
years from now; “we should be able to stop importation of rice.”
He
noted that land development is the biggest challenge for agricultural investors
at the moment as we lack capacity of engineers to develop the land.
He
added that we have to also get modern equipment to be able to mechanize our
agriculture.
He
highlighted that “if we can mechanize farming, making it less back breaking and
more profitable it will be an incentive for youth to involve in,” adding that
we should be able to entice youth to venture into farming.
He
pointed out that farming has to be less labour intensive, more profitable and
efficient to attract youth.
Mr.
Darboe revealed that he has plans to collaborate with government to create
employment for 30, 000 youth between the ages of 18 and 36 years in the next 6
years.
Momodou
Lamin Jobe, Head of Operations at Supersonicz, said the agreement has come at a
time when their intervention is needed to support farmers as they are engaged
in activities that positively impact particularly rural communities.
Mr.
Jobe challenged government to come up with policies that will protect private
sector investment when enough rice is produced to discourage people from
importing. He said they would also ensure there are taxes levied on imports to
ensure our local products are supported and protected.
Ali
Jawo of FAO highlighted the importance of the agreement, saying FAO will
provide technical assistance, advice, capacity building and input support.
Harouna
Gassama, president, Rice Farmers Cooperative Society, Jahally and Parcharr
expressed their delight with the agreement, saying it will address their
ploughing, fertilizer, seeds, produce marketing and other difficulties they
used to face.
He also expressed their readiness to do their
best to honour the agreement in ensuring the project is a success.
