By: Haruna Kuyateh
As part of an effort to gauge the opinion of farmers supported by different agricultural projects to enhance farming, The Voice visited some farmers to find out how the support contributes to boosting the food production cycle.
Meanwhile, farmers are upbeat about bumper harvest while hailing the government for mobilization of inputs and reduction of fertilizers prices.
Omar Darboe, Chairman of the Village Development Committee of Badibou Darusalam of Lower Badibou described the support extended to farmers in the form of improved seed, greatly enhanced timely sowing, and noted that the germination rate was quite impressive.
He said groundnut seeds help to address challenges encountered by some farmers who peeled their seed using decorticated machines witnessed poor germination and put farmers in desperate situations.
Omar Darboe thanked the Department of Agriculture for the support and said the reduction of fertilizer helped farmers a lot. Farmers have diversified into all forms of agricultural activities and agroforestry to restore soil nutrients and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Mustapha Darboe, a beneficiary farmer of Rice Value Chain Transformation Project (RVCTP) groundnut, and GAFSP bio-fortified Maize and fertilizer thanked the project for their support to farmers, noting that the support contributed immensely to boosting food production and diversification in production.
He called on the government and projects team to assist farmers with draught animals, seeders, and shine hoes to strengthen their capacity.
Omar Sonko, Agric Officer at the Regional Agricultural Directorate in Kerewan North Bank Region said the 2023 cropping season witnessed massive agricultural projects given to farmers within the region through the Regional Directorate in Kerewan. This includes Girave (rice, maize subsidized fertilizer), ROOTS project support for rice production to four intervention communities namely Jurunku, Bakang, KintehKunda Janneh Ya, and Salikenni
The Agricultural Officer used the moment to call on farmers to adopt recommended practices to avoid post-harvest losses.
Bagal Bah, a fertilizer agent at Toroba used the moment to call on agents to desist from all forms of illegal activity, citing selling of fertilizer across the border. He said it was a shock to many that the Police had arrested some Gambian and Senegalese for transportation and selling of fertilizer meant for Gambian farmers.
Bah alluded to the fact that selling fertilizer at Cooperative Societies and Agents helps farmers and also creates ways to access fertilizer and commended the government through GGC for the foresight.
2023 cropping season farmers were provided with high-quality fertilizer and there is enough fertilizer at stock at GGC Depots.
