The Coordinator of the Central project coordinating CPCU under the Ministry of Agriculture MOA. Mr. Abdoulie Touray has assured the commitment of the government under the leadership of President Adama Barrow in addressing the rice sub-sector in the country.
Mr. Touray commented over the weekend during the official handing over of agricultural inputs, post-harvest materials, and equipment to the rice-growing communities of Dampha Kunda, Sotuma Samba, Kosemar, Limbambulu, and Changally Lang Kaddy, procured by CPCU under the Ministry of Agriculture aim to boost rice production of farmers.
The handing-over ceremony was led by the Permanent Secretaries, Ministry of Agriculture Assan Jallow, and Alieu Loum of the Ministry of Public Service Office of the President, and other top Agriculture officials.
In his statement on behalf of the minister, Mr. Touray expressed delight over the handing over of the materials to rice-growing farmers in URR and CRR.
He indicated that the items provided were production inputs and materials, spare parts for the pumping machines, and fuel coupons to enhance farmers in irrigation of their rice among others.
He cited that the purpose of the event was to celebrate a significant achievement that stands out among all support which is the handing over ceremony of these much-needed production inputs, materials, and equipment that would have not come at a better time than now when the agriculture sector has commenced its transformation agenda of modernising the agriculture sector as enshrined in the National Development Plan.
Mr. Touray also dilated on the genesis of the support to the rice communities in both URR and CRR, noting that before the intervention of the AVCDP project, the area was virtually a virgin land full of trees and shrubs but the project was able to develop 50 HA incomplete for year-round production.
“History has it that there was no production for more than two decades for rice cultivation but the project has developed 50 HA incomplete which can now be cultivated year-round,” he recalled.
He also disclosed that at Dampha Kunda, the project found them cultivating rice around 40ha, but the project funded virgin land with trees and shrubs at the intervention site and expand the area to an extra 60 HA, a cumulative 90 hectares.
“Today Dampha Kunda, a total of 75 hectares has been plowed out of which 65 hectares have been transplanted at Limbambulu Bamboo. This community has been involved in dry season pump irrigated rice up to 4 hectares but with the intervention of AVCDP, the project has developed a total of 46 hectares A, cumulative 50HA,” he added.
