Abdoulie Touray made this disclosure over the weekend during the handing over of critical production inputs, post-harvest materials and equipment to the rice growing communities of Dampha Kunda, Sotuma Samba, Kosemar, Limbambulu and Changally Lang Kaddy.
The items were procured by CPCU under the Ministry of Agriculture and were aimed at boosting rice production in the country.
The handing over ceremony was led by the permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Assan Jallow, who was accompanied by Alieu Loum, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Public Service at the Office of the President and other senior officials from the Ministry.
Touray expressed delight to be associated with the event and that the items presented aims to enhance irrigation in the beneficiary regions.
"These items provided were production inputs and materials, spare parts for the pumping machines and fuel coupons to enhance your irrigated rice production among others."
He described the presentation as timely in view of the fact the Ministry has begun its transformation agenda of modernising agriculture as enshrined in the NDP and reflected into the second-generation Gambia enshrined in the National Development Plan.
He recalled that before the intervention of AVCDP project, the area was virtually a virgin land full of trees and shrubs and the project was able to develop 50 HA incomplete, with 2 raining season production, Sotouma Samba Koi.
"In 2023 dry season, a total of 50 hectares has been ploughed supporting dry season production."
CPCU Coordinator reminded that at Dampha Kunda, the project found them cultivating rice around 40 hectares, but the project found virgin land with trees and shrubs at the intervention site and expanded the area to extra 60 hectares, cumulative 90 hectares.
"Today Dampha Kunda, a total of 75 hectares has been ploughed out of which 65 hectares has been transplanted Limbambulu Bamboo. This community has been involved in dry season pump irrigated rice up to 4 hectares, but with intervention of AVCDP, the project has developed a total of 46 hectares A, cumulative 50 hectares. "
Touray also pointed out that at Changally Lang Kaddy communities have been cultivating rice before AVCDP intervention, but the project found virgin land full of trees and shrubs at the intervention site.
He said, this area with intervention of the project have been expanded to 79 hectares, thus cumulative to 93 hectares.
