By Victor Ofuonye
Mr. Momodou Hydara, the General Manager of Jah Agric Farms and Foods, has indicated in an exclusive interview that his company intends to reduce the price of rice in The Gambia during the upcoming yuletide season. “We are focused on lowering the price of rice to between D1500 and D1700 per 50-kilogram bag. This adjustment will occur once our locally produced rice reaches the market later this month. Our domestically produced rice is currently undergoing processing following a successful harvest exceeding 3,500 tonnes,” Mr. Hydara confirmed.
He further articulated that the current Jah Rice available to consumers consists of imported varieties, which the company procured to address market deficiencies and contribute to the reduction of rice prices nationwide. “It is indeed encouraging that, owing to Jah Oil’s intervention, other importers have also lowered their prices, resulting in a net benefit for Gambians. Several additional initiatives are forthcoming this year that are expected to positively impact the Gambian marketplace,” he remarked.
Mr. Hydara emphasized that the overarching goal of the company is to eliminate rice imports within The Gambia, thereby conserving foreign exchange resources that could otherwise be allocated to various development initiatives undertaken by the government.
Readers may recall that in November of the previous year, it was reported that Jah Agric Foods and Farms launched a significant initiative aimed at decreasing The Gambia’s dependency on imported rice. The initiative successfully culminated in the cultivation and harvest of a 4-kilometer rice field in Baya Ba village, located within the Sami District of the Central River Region.
This success warranted a visit from President Adama Barrow during a segment of his ‘Meet the People Tour.’ During this visit, he underscored the nation’s substantial reliance on imported rice and other essential commodities to satisfy consumer demand. President Barrow reiterated the government’s commitment to transforming this scenario by fostering private-sector participation in rice production. He urged business leaders to emulate the example set by Mr. Hamidu Jah by investing in local rice farming, stating, “Such initiatives contribute to food security, generate employment opportunities, and reduce dependence on foreign exchange.”
Moreover, President Barrow pledged to modernize the agricultural sector to enhance domestic rice production through strategic partnerships with private investors. He outlined intentions to advocate for private investment in rice cultivation while acknowledging the considerable financial resources required for large-scale agricultural operations. “I have engaged in discussions with local business leaders, encouraging them to invest in rice production, as this endeavor necessitates significant capital that the government alone cannot furnish. Prominent figures such as Hamidou Jah of Jah Oil, Muhammed Jah of Qcell, and the Ahmadiyya Jamaat Muslims are actively engaged in local rice farming. Their contributions will be essential in advancing the nation’s food security objectives,” he stated.
Mr. Momodou Hydara, the Managing Director of Jah Oil Group and representative of Mr. Hamidu Jah, elaborated that through investments in mechanized farming, Jah Group has employed youth and women to assist in various phases of rice production. Following a successful pilot phase, Jah Group has acquired additional machinery and aims to expand production to three or four cycles per annum.
