NFPG to engage donors and policy-makers to redress challenges of 2014 farming season

NFPG members said there is a need for the umbrella body to engage donors and policy-makers, on how to redress challenges of the 2014 cropping season due to limited rainfall.

Speaking during the field visits in the four regions of West Coast Region, Lower River Region, Central River Region and North Bank Region recently, Bouye the purpose is to get first-hand information on the farms and to assess yields in the just-ended farming season.

The tour was funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO.

One of the recommendations made by the farmers’ platform at the conclusion of their four-day tour, Bouye said, was to engage donors and policy-makers to address the challenges in the agriculture sector.

It is important to ensure that farmers are provided with fertilizer and seeds on time, as well as other farming inputs to help in attaining high crop yields.

Giving his assessment of the farming season, following the tour, Bouye said the “crop are very good”.

However, the early ending of the rainy season has affected most crops, and the policy-makers need to come up with response measures to help the farmers, he added.

Also in the tour party was Cherno Gaye, head of the participatory forest management unit, who spoke of the importance attached to trees, especially in the development of agriculture, as forests provide compost and help retain water in the soil.