RRVCDP hands over $ 29.8M worth of farming equipment to farmers
By Sulayman Waan
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security through the Central Projects Coordinating Unit (CPCU) Regional Rice Value Chain Development Project (RRVCDP) recently presented numerous farming equipment, inputs and post-harvest structures worth $29.8 million to farmers.
The handing-over ceremony of essential Agricultural materials held at Pacharr in Central River Region (CRR) include 10 tractors, 200 metric tons of rice seeds, 500 metric tons of fertilizer and herbicides, 6 district stores and 11 drying floors.
It aims at boosting local rice production, reduce high importation rate of rice and enhance economic growth through improved production, processing, and marketing as well as enhance private sector participation.
The project intervention covers Central River Region North and South and Upper River Region (URR).
The PRVCDP is co-funded by the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (IsDB), Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and the Government of The Gambia (GoTG) and was effective in May 2020.
The project’s major target is to develop 3,265 hectares of rice fields to add to the existing ones. With the development of these lands complemented by farm machinery such as tractors and power tillers; infrastructure such as grain stores, drying floors and access road, microfinance loans to farmers and the private sector among many other supports that the project will provide, would support the country’s overall aim of attaining rice self-sufficiency.
In his remarks, Dr. Demba Sabally, Minister of Agriculture said the project is significant to supporting government’s efforts to substantially increase the production and productivity of rice using the private sector value chain led approach; increase smallholder farmers income and reduce poverty and food insecurity and thus improve the livelihood of the rural population. He added that it will also create commercial opportunities for targeted rice farmers with the objective to create access to markets.
Minister Sabally noted that, the tractors will be given to cooperatives and the private sector.
“This follows the project philosophy of enhancing rice production through a private sector led approach,” he added.
Concerning seeds provided, he said “the seeds supported to farmers is expected to immensely contribute to productivity enhancement in this dry season and the upcoming season.”
“The project is also today, handing-over 500MT of high quality fertilizer, comprising 333MT of NPK 15:15:15 and 167MT of Urea,” he further said.
“These fertilizer have been tested and confirmed to be of good quality and suitable for use,” he said, while adding that 5,625kg of herbicides and 80 liters of pesticides would also be distributed to cooperatives.
Minister Sabally thanked IsDB and BADEA for the support and President Barrow for his commitment to access of equipment to farmers.
Mustapha Drammeh, Deputy Director of Agriculture expressed delight with the project. “The Department of Agriculture and by extension the Ministry and the Government of The Gambia are well concerned for the welfare of farmers,” he said.
He advised the beneficiaries to make best use of the equipment and inputs, saying if handled properly will benefit farmers to expectation.
Lamin K Saidy, Presidential Advisor on Youth Matters said the project is a clear manifestation that the Barrow administration is committed to empowering farming.
He admitted that several Gambian youth have now shifted attention to agriculture, while calling on more youth to avoid the irregular migration to Europe and embark on farming to enhance national development, most especially food security and poverty reduction.
Representing the governor of CRR, Deputy Governor Sainey Mbaye commended The Gambia Government through the Ministry of Agriculture for empowering the rural farmers.
“These equipment will ease farming and contribute to the development of Agriculture in the country,” Mbaye, also a farmer, said.
SW/COB/04/03/25
