FAO and partners step up support for rice farmers as The Gambia battles COVID 19 pandemic
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in close partnership with the regional Agricultural Directorate in Sapu and the Agribusiness Service Unit under the Department of Agriculture is supporting 200 farmers in the Central River Region South (Jahali Pachar zone) to produce 700 tonnes of rice. The initiative is supported by the European Union funded project “Agriculture for Economic Growth” through a tripartite rice contract agreement between Maruo Farms (a private firm), Supersonicz Microfinance institution, and 200 smallholder rice farmers under the coordination of the National Coordinating Organization for Farmers Association in The Gambia (NACOFAG). The harvest due in July would help reduce the high dependency on imported rice in the country, as well as increase the farmers’ income.
The agreement has enabled Maruo Farms to ensure the timely provision of production inputs, i.e rice seeds and fertilizer) to the farmers whilst Supersonicz Microfinance institution facilitated the desilting of tidal irrigation canals.
Musa Darboe, Chief Executive Officer, Maruo Farms has lauded the initiative noting that it has enabled farmers to access high quality seed and fertilizer, benefit from free ploughing services and technical support on good agronomic practices. According to Darboe, more than one thousand farmers wanted to be part of the initiative but due to limited capacity, he could only accommodate 200. “This is an opportunity for other Gambians to invest in this area of agriculture. There are many opportunities. I cannot do it alone. We need more Gambians in to this field and I am ready to support any Gambian who is willing to come in to this field”, he said. “FAO is doing a great job and I think after (the training of) these 200, we will see the results”. According to Darboe, the Ministry of Agriculture is procuring a combined harvester for them to enable them to harvest on time and thus prevent losses. He referred to possible financial support by Government to enable them to buy all the produce on sale, package it to standard and sell it locally. This way, they can repay the loan after marketing. Darboe appealed to FAO and partners to replicate the initiative across the country to reach more farmers.
Lamin Camara, a 68-year- old farmer and Mrs Suntu Sanneh, a female rice grower both described the initiative as “timely” noting that it has renewed their hopes and expectations for a good harvest. They argued that they would not have been producing rice this year had it not been for this FAO led intervention. “Because the fields are flooded during the rainy season and during the dry season the canals are blocked, we could not have ploughed the fields or purchased seed and fertilizer for production” for dry season production”, the two farmers explained.
“We are very hopeful for a bumper harvest and increased income as the intervention has catered for the marketing of our produce; and I can say that this assistance will go a long way towards bringing Jahally and Pacharr back to its glory days,” Camara remarked.
“Ensuring the continuation of agricultural activities and support to the communities to increase their production and productivity are key to mitigating the impacts of COVID19 and the uncertainty posed by climate change’”, says Ms Moshibudi Rampedi, FAO Country Representative. Commenting on the contract rice growing initiative, she expresses optimism that the intervention will enhance the livelihood and food security of the target beneficiaries in particular, and the Gambian populace at large. She noted that FAO’s mission and mandate remain more relevant than ever. She called for concerted efforts and renewed partnerships from all stakeholders to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals as we contain the spread of the COVID-19 and the burden of food and nutrition insecurity through a holistic and integrated approach.
Ousman Sanyang, Senior Agribusiness Officer, and Lamin Jawara, Senior Agric Officer, and Focal Person for Agribusiness Services in Central River Region South, both expressed gratitude to FAO for the “timely intervention“ and have restated their commitment to provide technical advice to farmers for the success of the initiative.
Musa F. Sowe, President, NACOFAG, encourages farmers to make good use of the opportunity and produce more rice for both household consumption and for sale on the local market. He reminded the farmers that: “Lack of access to quality inputs [seeds and fertilizer], ploughing services, water in the fields and market for your produce have been the main factors preventing you from cultivating your rice fields. Now that all these challenges have been addressed through FAO’s intervention, we expect that you will produce a bumper harvest. You can keep 20% of your produce for household consumption and sell the remaining 80% to Maruo Farms”, he noted.