By Lamin Kujabi
His Excellency President Adama Barrow on Monday, 24th October 2022, received special envoy of the government of the Republic South Korea (ROK) who was accompanied by a high-powered delegation.
The delegation was accompanied by to the State House by Demba Sabally, Minister of Agriculture; and Muhammed Jah, Honorary Consul General of Republic of South Korea to The Gambia.
When Kim Ji-Joon, Ambassador of the Republic of South Korea visited the Presidency to present his letter of credence to His Excellency President Adama Barrow in May 2022 at the State House, he promised that his country will support Gambia’s agriculture especially in rice production. He later returned to The Gambia with tons of South Korean rice for experiment, which started in June.
Mr. Chae Cho noted that he is in the country to reaffirm their promise and commitment to support Gambia’s agriculture, more especially rice production for food self-sufficiency and security in the country.
Speaking to journalists after his meeting with the PORG, Mr. Chae Cho said they are also committed to building the capacity of Gambians with emphasis on technology transfer through mechanisation and management.
Honourable Demba Sabally, Minister of Agriculture expressed appreciation and welcomed the development, describing it as an ambitious step towards achieving the priorities of the government. He expressed optimism that it will lay the foundation for the establishment of a sustainable agricultural sector that meets the needs of the people.
He pointed out that the agreement has reached to extend the work of Senegal based South Korean Centre which specializes in rice cultivation and strongly believes that private sector is expected to play a leading role in the process.
Muhammed Jah, stated that this will revolutionise rice production and hasten the attainment of national food sufficiency and security.
He informed that the delegation would be engaging different government ministries and agencies to move the process forward “as both sides have shown remarkable commitment to meet their intended goals of attaining food sufficiency and security”.
