By: Nyima Sillah
As part of soil science discoveries of proper management of soil fertility to realize organic agricultural produce, a None-Governmental Organization (NGO) called Soil Solution in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture Soil and Water Management Service are rapping up a soil week- long awareness raising activities on the preservation of soil fertility or soil health by engaging the media such as conveying a press conference, communality radio talk shows, national radio and television panel discussions.
The historic soil week- long activities which started on 23rd November is expected to end on 28th November this year.
Speaking at the press conference on 23rd November which also marked the first activity of the week under review, the Executive Director of Soil Solution, EbrimaJarra, observed that the soil of Gambia is being threatened by various factors such as deforestation, urbanization, and intensive agriculture activities.
Mr. Jarra who was addressing journalists in the conference hall of the Department of Agriculture Soil and Water Management Service in Yundum further stated that the ongoing media activities are designed to raise public awareness about sustainable agriculture activities and the significance of soil health or soil fertility in the country.
“Soil health is threatened by various factors, ranging from deforestation to urbanization. We have seen real estate developing estates all over the country degrading some of our lands and exposing some of our lands to erosion and run of water and also intensive agriculture practices and this is mainly one of the factors that catalyze the process of land degradation,” Mr. Jarrapinpointed.
He also made a salient statistical comparison between the past and present in terms of groundnuts yields, saying in the past farmers used have a bumper harvest of groundnuts but currently according to statistics the highest harvest in a hectare is 2.5 to 3 tons of groundnuts contrary to international standards.
“These are some of the things the soil solution the Gambia and partners are trying to cope with in order to see that our productive cycle in the Gambia especially in the agriculture sector is boosted,” he added.
Subscribing to the discourse, Abdou Rahman Jobe, Director of Soil and Water Management Service Department of Agriculture who also doubles as the Board Chair of Soil Solution also emphasized the significance of soil, classifying soil as one of the most pivotal factors in agriculture but little or no premium on placed on soil fertility or soil preservation but mainly focusing on the agricultural produce.
“Without the soil, agriculture production will be limited. We need to improve the nourishing capacity of our soil, otherwise, the plants we grow might not have the adequate nutrition they require which leads to poor harvest. This is why the Department of Agriculture encourages the use of organic fertility. It is important to take care of soil in a sustainable way. The soil is where food begins. We cannot have a healthy life without a healthy soil,” Jobe emphasized.
Director of Regional Agricultural Directorate, West Coast Region, Mustapha Drammeh, described the soil week as timely. “Looking at the nature of our soil, there is a need to take practical steps towards addressing the issues that are affecting our soil. I would expect the people who are going to discuss this issue to come out with tangible solutions to our soils so that our production and productivity will improve and the food and nutrition security that we all yearn for can be attained in the shortest possible time,” he buttressed.