Gambia: National Assembly Select Committee Embarks On Agric Tour

Agric Tour

The National Assembly Select Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development and NGO Affairs on Wednesday 9th March commenced a nationwide tour to assess and gather firsthand information on Vision 2016 farms, horticulture and aquaculture centres, agriculture projects, activities and programmes.

The tour would help members to be well informed to enable them identify key priority areas of agriculture and to appropriate necessary funding for agricultural activities; members would be able to fast-track and monitor resources allocated for agricultural purposes thereby helping the country make progress in accomplishing the desired goals of the Vision 2016.

At the Food and Agricultural Organisation Garden in Niumi Lamin, North Bank Region, the National Assembly Members had a brief discussion with the women gardeners on their constraints and way forward in improving the working condition at the garden.

Speaking at the centre, Fatou Saho, a gardener at Niumi Lamin said that there is no stable price for their garden produce. She said they had cold storage but their cooling system was not functioning well, and as a result they sold their produce at any given price to avoid spoilage.

Karamo Marong, the Village Development Committee Chairman and Musu Kebba Darboe, the Lady Chairperson of the Niumi Lamin Women Association informed the NAMs that they were allocated 5-hectares of land but due to the extension project it was then increased to 8-hectares, which was given to them by the Alkalo in 2013.

They explained that there are 215 people currently working in the garden, 14 are men and 201 are women and each is given 16 beds. He added that they have 32 solar panels, 25 manholes and 20 reservoirs and 200, 000 litres of water tank.

After the meeting with the women gardeners, the delegates proceeded to the NBR Governor's office and they were welcome by the NBR Deputy Governor, Mustapha Saidy.

In welcoming the delegates, Saidy commended the President for providing enough fertilizers at an affordable price and also farming equipment to the farmers.

He applauded the Committee for coming up with this important initiative, as the Vision 2016 initiative calls for concerted efforts, while calling on all and sundry to work together for its attainment.

Background

The National Assembly Select Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development and NGO Affairs under the provisions of sections 109, sub section (2) of 1997 Constitution is mandated "to investigate into the activities or administration of ministries or departments of the government, and such investigations or inquiry may extend to making proposals for legislation. In the same vein, subsection (3) of the provision accorded the Committee powers, rights and privileges as are vested in the high court.