By Amadou Bah
Mr. Amro Attia, farm manager at MA Kharafi Farm in Kafuta, Kombo, East West Coast Region, has told National Assembly select committee on Trade oversight that the farm produce 6000 tonnes of potatoes annually.
Speaking to lawmakers who recently visited the farm as part of their mandate aims at getting firsthand information on challenges facing business activities in the country in Kafuta, he said despite this production they are yet to cover or supply the whole country.
Given an overview of the company operation, financial manager Mohammed Elsie said MA Kharafi and Son, is a joint company by Kharafi and Son and Farm Food Dutch Company).
He disclosed that 80% of share of MARK Food is own by MA Kharafi whilst the 20%belong to Dutch partner.
He said the company has two farms, Kafuta and Koloro and both have been operating together since 2007 under the name MARK Foods.
He also noted that MARK Food is mainly specialised in the production of onion and potato, under the supervision of the Trade ministry, adding that their objectives is to ensure their produce reaches the market on time and accessible to all Gambian.
He disclosed the price per a bag of 20kg Irish potatoes cost D510, Onion cost D410, revealing that the company employed 100 workers, majority of whom are Gambian.
He further said that as part of the company corporate and social responsibility they are providing fuel to the Kafuta hospital and are planning dig borehole in Koloro.
In the same development the committee visited Serekunda market where vendors who lamented lack of access and space at the market, while retail sellers also lamented lack of garage, thus making the transportation of their goods to their shops difficult.
Women vendors also told the committee lack of adequate space in the market is compelling them to sell along the highway, despite paying weekly daily market duties.
“We would like the stakeholder to act with urgency to help relegate our nightmare into history” they said