By: Haruna Kuyateh
Alh. Modou Touray, the Regional President of the North Bank Region Maize Grower Association has described this year’s season as a success on maize, and millet, whilst groundnut had a low yield.
The prominent farmer was speaking to The VOICE on Thursday at Maka Farafenni, stating that farmers realized bumper maize harvests. He hailed the government for the timely and quality delivery of fertilizer and other inputs through the Gambia Inclusive and Resilient Agriculture Value Change GIRAV and Gambia Food Security Project GAFSP, going on to describe farmers’ level of maize cultivation this year as impressive but averred that marketing remains a big challenge for maize growers.
Touray appealed to the World Food Program, and the Catholic Relief Service CRS through the School Feeding Program, poultry breeders, and the business community to come forward and support farmers in the marketing of maize. Also stressing that the timely marketing of maize would greatly support farmers in meeting their family needs and promote diversification into other business opportunities to boost income and contribute to poverty reduction.
The regional maize champion went on to thank the Village Development Committee of Maka Farafenni for the acquisition of a maize thresher machine and GIRAV for providing a tractor to the VDC as part of its matching grant. Alh. Touray, also hailed GIRAV and NACOFAG for the establishment of a capacity-building project for maize growers across the country.
Further advising maize farmers to be vigilant and to preserve quality seed for the next planting season, he went on to assure them that his organization would work with the government and its agencies for the marketing of maize and urged communities to be more proactive in preserving grazing and forest cover against bushfire, as farm produce are still on the farms.
Commenting on the performance of groundnuts as the main cash crop, Touray asserted that the non-performance of groundnuts is a great concern to farmers, as they depend on it to address family needs and this includes food among others.
