The press release stated the need for rice self-sufficiency through mechanization of farming and the involvement of young people in agriculture. The public is also informed of the importation of 100 tractors towards such a venture.
Foroyaa would encourage the government to have the same type of dialogue with the political parties so that all the possible agendas for the transformation of the agricultural sector would be discussed or exchanged.
Foroyaa has previously published some excerpts from the PDOIS Manifesto on agricultural production which indicate that the key requirement for the transformation of the agricultural sector is the establishment of a cooperative bank that will give interest free loans to every family in The Gambia to ensure the availability of appropriate mechanized farm implements, seeds and fertilizers to ensure large scale production of crops and vegetables.
According to that policy, the production must be accompanied by the capacity to purchase farm produce by supporting a marketing chain through the same interest free loans as well as the establishment of processing chains to promote value addition.
Other political parties should be ready to prepare their own policies on such a national debate on the way forward for agriculture.
