Nerica Farmers Association Launched in Kerewan

The Daily Observer (Banjul)

Alhagie Babou Jallow

30 May 2011

Nbr — The Nerica Farmers Association in Kerewan was last Wednesday officially launched by the governor of the North Bank Region, Alhaji Eduwarr Seckan, at a ceremony held in Kerewan.

Speaking at the occasion, Governor Seckan underscored the importance government attaches to food self-sufficiency and the empowerment of farmers in the country. He said the formation of Nerica Farmers Association is timely; that it would help his region in promoting Nerica cultivation and support agricultural staff in the dissemination of best agricultural practices to enhance production.

Governor Seckan called on the executive members of the association to unite and build good relationship with farmers, in order to promote the cultivation of Nerica and ensuring food security. The NBR governor commended President Jammeh for providing tractors to the Women’s Federation chapter in his region, noting that it would boost the production capacity of women on rice cultivation.

For his part, Dr. Saihou E. Sanyang, Regional Agricultural director for North Bank Region, reiterated the need for farmers to be supported in this noble initiative. He said the association would help farmers in the region to work together in addressing common issues that are of interest to rice growers. Sanyang said the objective of setting up a regional Nerica Farmers Association is to empower farmers to take up leadership roles and have total ownership of their farming activities, as well as to be able to coordinate the welfare of Nerica rice farmers in the region.

He went on to assert that the establishment of District Nerica Farmers Associations would complement the efforts of the regional body in the day to day operation of the regional structures. He said that his office has high regards for farmers as they are hard working and committed to food self-sufficiency.

The chief of Lower Baddibu District, Fafanding Kinteh, commended the rice growers in the region for their foresight and concern in setting up a regional association to promote the initiative of the president, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Jammeh, for the country to become food self-sufficient. Chief Kinteh hailed the efforts of the Nerica Rice Growers Association for their continuous support and commitment to the welfare of farmers in the region. He therefore called on rice farmers to support the executive in the mobilisation of resources and in setting up farms across the region.

Chief Kinteh used the opportunity to thank President Jammeh for his invaluable support to farmers and district chiefs across the country, by giving them tractors to boost food production and increase the country’s income level. He called on the village alkalolu to provide land to the Nerica Rice Growers’ executive to create district farms for the newly established association. He finally applauded the Regional Agricultural Directorate in Kerewan for their support to the noble initiatives of the farmers.

Sambou Dampha, the president of the NBR Nerica Rice Farmers Association, thanked the people of NBR for the trust and confidence bestowed on him and his team. He expressed the need for support and technical advice from the Regional Agricultural Directorate. He said the attainment of food self-sufficiency calls for concerted efforts of everybody, in order to complement government’s efforts towards the attainment of food security.

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