As a country with abundant arable land, if farmers in the country are supported they could intensify their agric production, thereby guaranteeing the country’s food needs.
It is a well known fact that when a nation is able to produce enough food for its citizens, ultimately their future is guaranteed.
However, it is a common saying that the future is promised to no one, but massive investment in the agriculture sector could help place countries on a better advantage than others.
It is in the news that the Minister of Trade Baboucarr Ousmaila Joof has lauded farmers producing rice, potatoes and onions, noting that farming is a guaranteed future.
As he rightly stated that “it is a guaranteed future when you do the right thing and get the support you required from us.” Therefore, the government and partners should do all it takes to support and boost our local farmers to be able to boost agric production in the country.
Experts revealed that three quarters of the world’s poor live in rural areas and are largely dependent on farming. Moreover, in developing countries, the livelihood of most people derives from agriculture, especially small-scale farming.
In view of this fact, the government should encourage public-private partnership to ensure robust development of our agriculture system.
It is true that agriculture in developing countries faces important challenges such as climate change, environmental degradation, biodiversity reduction, and rapid population and economic growth. But devising mechanisms to these alarming environmental shocks could help increase crop yields
It also needs to bring bigger returns to create opportunities for growth and poverty reduction in our partner countries.
We need to engage more in the production of rice, potatoes and onions as a significant number of the population in one way or the other deals in these crops. In fact if more farmers engaged more in this sector, it would significantly cut down importation of foreign food, thus ensuring economic growth.
Let’s be wary of the fact that potatoes and rice are highly complementary crops. Also promoting the cultivation of upland rice is twice as productive after a crop of potatoes, which yields tonnes per hectare.
It is high time people viewed agriculture as a business that provides and strengthens global economies with commodities, basic goods used in commerce, such as grain, livestock, dairy, fiber, and raw materials for fuel.