“Over the past years, the GAF has been working in making sure this dream becomes reality. We realised that every year, the bulk of money provided to the armed forces is spent on food and food services. Again, that huge amount of money allocated to GAF is spent on rice. Therefore, we want to embark on rice production in order to reduce spending huge amounts of money on rice and in turn use that money in improving the living conditions of soldiers,” he said.
CDS Cham was speaking to journalists at Jahally Pacharr rice field during a visit to the proposed rice fields earmarked for the GAF rice production.
He maintained that almost 40 to 50% of the money provided to GAF goes to feeding. “This amounts to 50 to 60 million dalasis. Therefore, we want to embark on rice production in order to use that money and invest it in other areas particularly in building accommodations and procuring other equipment that a modern armed forces need.”
“For now, we can’t disclose the exact amount of money involved in the project. However, we are talking to our partners primarily the Central Bank of The Gambia. We have worked with them and they have asked us to come up with a project proposal which was done and cost and with the expected return yearly. But I can tell you that we are talking about 85 to 100 million dalasis projects.”
The conversations, he added, are still ongoing. “We hope that they will soon commit the resources as per the request. We have been waiting for a long time and we feel that we can’t continue waiting. Probably, we have to start the project and once our partner sees us doing the project, they would be convinced to support the project.”
The GAF, CDS Cham added, spend around 40 million to buy rice. “Our intention is to cultivate 2000 hectares of rice or even more. However, it is going to be gradual. We are starting with the support of the Chinese with the 50 hectares. The African Development Bank (AFD) is also going to support us with 200 hectares. Again, with the arrival of our own equipment, we will also be able to start another 200 hectares,” he disclosed.
“The intention is within the first two years of this initiative, we want to go from 500 hectares to 1000 hectares. If the yield is as projected, we will be able to feed ourselves. Therefore, within the next five years, we will be able to feed the armed forces and if the project continues and produces more than our requirement, we should be able to put it into the market at very reasonable prices so that we can achieve the food self-sufficiency drive of the country.”
“We have looked within our budget and have made some savings and have committed to procure two tractors as a start and other equipment. We have also talked to our friends at the Chinese Embassy. Through their generosity, they have advised their team of agriculturists to support the GAF in this initiative.”
“We have agreed with them to at least to start with 50 plots this year. In addition, we have spoken to the African Development Bank (ADB) as part of their support to The Gambia. Therefore, they are going to support GAF with 200 hectares of prepared rice fields. They are going to prepare the ground and provide an irrigation pump as well as the seeds and other required inputs for a period of two to three years.”
Minister Sering Modou Njie, spoke at length on the need for the GAF to embark on agricultural production, adding that it will go a long way in ensuring that it increases rice production in the country. “Every year, GAF spends a huge amount of money in the area of feeding the armed forces. Therefore, this initiative will be a game changer.”
