By Lamin Kujabi
A delegation of the Republic of South Korea was at State House on March 8th to update President Adama Barrow about the rice production project the Korean experts are executing with Ministry of Agriculre in Jahally and Pachar and Sapu.
The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Demba Sabally, who accompanied the Korean delegation to the Presidency said the discussion centred on seed programme and distribution of the high-yield rice seeds the Korean are supporting The Gambia with.
He said the Korean rice experts are in Sapu, where they got their trial field since last year. “Their seeds ISRI seven and eight are very high-yielding seeds. There minimum yield is seven tons per hectare. What we did last year was to distribute the seeds to our Gambian seed growers’ association. We are using these seeds for multiplication and for onward distribution to Gambian farmers. The goal is to have this seed as the dominant seed in our rice fields,” Minister Sabally explained.
Muhammed Jah, Council General and head of Qgroup explained that the project is in two folds: Food multiplication project and the technical support project with National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI).
Jah revealed that the Qgroup is about to start rice production; that they are only waiting for the acquisition process to conclude.
The Qgroup boss also expressed his organisation’s interest in fish processing, saying they are working with the Ministry of Fisheries to establish a fish processing plant in The Gambia.
The Korean team extended official invitation to the President for him to visit South Korea, for South Korea- Africa summit in June.
In a separate engagement on the same date, the President received in audience the Women in Business Advocacy Group on the occasion of the International Women’s Day.
Speaking to the press, the chairperson of the Group, Fatoumata Jawara affirmed that their visit was in connection to the celebration of the International Women’s Day. She said they specifically engaged the President to request for the affirmative action of 30% in the Procurement Bill.
She revealed that the President acknowledged the great work of Gambian women, and an indication that he would support the requested affirmation action, and continue to empower women.
