URR record bumper rice harvest, but appeals for greater support

 

According to Peter Baldeh, the NERICA focal person in URR, farmers in the region had a satisfying record of harvest, and they are currently paying back the paddy rice they took on credit, a situation he described as a clear manifestation of the bumper harvest. 

 

He made this observation recently at a meeting held in Basse at the agricultural station in Mansajang. The purpose of the meeting was to brief the Taiwan Technical Mission on the constraints farmers in the region encounter.

 

He said more than 150 villages had also participated in the farming activities in which the average turn out of female was 60 percent of all participants. He added that whenever they give farmers the NERICA paddy as loans, the farmers return the paddy after the harvest.

 

"This is the rice we will use for next year's cultivation." He also maintained that they did not stop at giving out paddy rice to the farmers, but they also provide managerial skills and technical advice to them from the period of cropping up till harvest.

 

"Despite the bumper harvest, we still have some problems with lack of storage, insufficient milling and threshing machines," he added.

 

He stressed that due to the problem with the lack of storage, the NERICA varieties often get mixed with other varieties, as individual farmers continue to be plagued with the unavailability of storages. 

 

According to him, the Farmers Association of URR is undertaking the process of initiating a market for paddy rice in the region.

 

He revealed that they have already collected 1000 bags of paddy rice totaling 50,000 kg and that each kilo would cost D5.00 at that market.

 

Mr. Baldeh also underscored their intention to extend the market, thus calling on other partners to support the proposal. He commended the Taiwan Technical Mission, whom he described as being very supportive to them in various ways.

 

Appealing on behalf of the Association, Alhagie Kibilie Jaguraga, president of the association said despite the support they have been receiving from the Taiwanese Technical Mission, they still need more help as farmers continue to decry low fertilizer application, lack of storage and insufficient farming facilities.

 

He said the fact that the linking roads are dilapidated, they also need new transport facilities and easy access to threshing and milling machines.

 

Dembo Jawar of Sandugu, Bai Sorrie Jawneh of Kerewan, Bakary Jammeh, an extension worker, Alieu Jallow of Dingiring all expressed similar sentiments.

 

They lamented the mixture of NERICA rice with other varieties, as one of the challenges plaguing farmers in the region.

 

Ba Sorrie Jawneh spoke on the need for adequate and efficient training to be provided to them while Bakary Jammeh also appealed for the provision of chemical and such apparels to be worn when applying the chemical. He also called for allowance for maintenance of facilities as well as rain coats for extension workers.

 

They also admitted that due to the introduction of NERICA, poverty is gradually decreasing in every household in URR.

 

Cecilia Baldeh, an expert on rice production underscored few important points which continue to stab farmers on their back. She observed that lack of education and pricing policies are some of the factors that continue.

 

 

She implored the association to work closely with the Education ministry to devise ways of including rice farming syllabuses in the educational curriculum.

 

When this happens, she said "the children would be able to learn about rice cultivation at the primary school level and by the time they enter high school, they would know much about the process." She said this integrated course has to begin from the primary school level.

 

On pricing policies, she maintained that the association should be able to minimise the cost of a bag of rice, to supersede the general market price.

 

While she commended them for the good record, she also charged them with educating their children and not to allow farming activities and cattle rearing to be part of the factors contributing to their children's dropping out of school.

 

Ezou Shu-Kang, senior specialist at the Taiwan Technical Mission in The Gambia, underscored the importance of the meeting. As he said, farmers' advocacies for farming activities are an important stepping stone for the mission. He highlighted useful points in response to their need.

 

He then urged them to grow more hectares in order to be able to benefit from the project. He also spoke on the need of being strong enough to be able to demonstrate capabilities of working hard.

 

 He finally highlighted the importance of protecting and sustaining the facilities if and when provided, adding that there should be random check-up and very good precaution should be applied.