The initiative is part of efforts designed to boost agricultural yields in both upland and low land fields, thereby cutting cost involved in procuring high cost fertilizer. Moreover, the fertilizer demonstration trial currently underway in the area include10 lines of rice in Central River Region south and 10 lines of groundnut in CRR north.
The site visits referred to as ‘field day’ also accorded NARI team the opportunity to train selected farmers in area on various of types of fertilizer suitable for each crop variety especially rice and groundnut, its content and application procedure.
At Pachar rice field, in Central River Region south, Director Dibba underscored the importance of agriculture in the development of any nation, further acknowledging that many farmers in the country use compound fertilizer in view of its composition; Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium (NPK).
“Many farmers used this compound fertilizer in their fields but it is also important for people to know the right content and its application methods to achieve high yield. The objective of any smallholder farmer is to generate high yield at the end of the season.”
He told farmers that it is important that they differentiate the types of fertilizer for each crop, saying they are jointly embarking on the fertilizer trial with OCP, Senegal, to boost crop yield in the country.
He, thus, expressed delight with what he had seen so far at Pacharr and commended farmers for their dedication and hard work.
The whole idea behind the project, he added, is to boost agricultural production in the country amid high cost of fertilizer, a situation that puts many smallholder farmers in a dilemma.
He disclosed that many smallholder farmers find it difficult to boost their crop production amid high cost of fertilizer in the country. However, once the trial is completed, NARI and its partners would be able to make recommendations and informed decisions and how to make it accessible to farmers in the country.
Baboucar Gibba, station manager at Sapu Agricultural Station and Lamin Darboe farm manager at Sapu, both commended farmers for their hard work and dedication.
Darboe explained that they started trial on August 15 2023 and are impressed with what they have seen so far.
Baboucarr Bah, an extension officer on behalf of the Agricultural director, Sapu, commended NARI and partners for the joint initiative.
Bah described the joint initiative as significant in a broader quest to enhance agricultural development in the country.
He noted that for far too long smallholder farmers have decried high cost of fertilizer in the country but when this fertilizer trial becomes successful, it would significantly cut down cost spent on fertilizer in the country.
Modou Jobe, a technician at Pachar Rice Farm, expressed similar sentiments.
Maria Leigh, a farmer at Pachar, commended NARI for their efforts towards the development of agriculture in the country.
She, however, lamented some challenges affecting farmers in the country such as high-cost fertilizer among a host of others.
