It is shameful that after 20 years of so called "development", in a
country that still claim 60 percent of her labor force in agriculture,
you are telling us that the Gambia produces only 25,000 tonnes (13kg per
person per yr)  of rice, 1/8th ( 12.5%) of annual consumption!!! And to
pretend that The Gambia has the land, water and technology to produce
175,000 tonnes (seven time current production)  in 14 calendar months is
at best dishonest.



Malanding

Courtesy:
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/gambias-annual-rice-import-bill-stands-at-us50m


Gambia’s annual rice import bill stands at US$50M
Africa » Gambia
Wednesday, October 29, 2014

The Gambia “will no longer be importing rice”, after 31 December 2015,
as it costs the nation annually US$50 million, said President Yahya
Jammeh in a recent interview granted the national TV station GRTS.

The Gambia, which imports rice from mainly India and Thailand, produces
less than 15 per cent of her own requirements in rice.

Gambia’s requirement of new rice is 175,500 metric tonnes per annum,
while local production is 24,895 metric tonnes, according to the
Ministry of Agriculture.

As part of The Gambia’s Vision 2016, which is calling for national food
self-sufficiency starting from 2016, the President has challenged all
Gambians, particularly agriculture project directors, to redouble their
efforts at ensuring that Gambia produces more agricultural foodstuffs to
end rice importation. This is in line with his slogan of “Grow what you
eat and eat what you grow”.

President Jammeh has also warned all agricultural directors to desist
from “corruption” in executing agricultural projects.

Presently eight senior agricultural directors, including the permanent
secretary, are undergoing trial at the high court of The Gambia. They
are charged with economic crimes and corruption relating to agricultural
projects.

The President also reiterated his stance for “zero tolerance in
mismanagement of agricultural projects”.
Source: Picture: President Jammeh

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