By Kebba AF Touray
Dr. Demba Sabally, the Minister of Agriculture informed Members of the National Assembly that a bag of fertiliser could have cost farmers three thousand Dalasi (D3,000), if not for the intervention of the Government to subsidise the product.
Minister Sabally said this while responding to parliamentary questions during the recently concluded second ordinary session of the National Assembly.
Minister Sabally said the Ministry of Agriculture has taken several steps to prepare farmers and farmer organisations for a successful season. He added that extension workers for both crop and livestock have been working tirelessly with farmers in all the regions of the country to support and guide them throughout the rainy season by introducing new technologies and best agricultural practices to them. In terms of fertiliser provision, Minister Saabally said the government has already procured 8,000 metric tons of fertiliser, which he said is highly subsidised and sold for D1,100 per 50kg bag to farmers across the country. In addition, the Government has also procured, provided and distributed seeds for rice, maize, and cowpea, and ploughing services have also been provided for about 3,600 hectares.
According to Minister Sabally, the Government has also provided herbicides and tractors to beneficiary communities and has also established regional platforms on WhatsApp, as a group communication platform for farmers particularly as a means for early warning systems.
“A ton of fertiliser averages around 700 dollars per ton. So, if you do the maths, the bag will cost you somewhere around three thousand dalasi (D3,000) or more. So, if it was not for the subsidy, a bag of fertiliser would have cost the farmer D3,000 or thereabout,” Dr Sabally said.
Hon. Omar Jammeh, the Member for Janjangbureh asked the Minister to clarify whether the D1,100 subsidised price is for organic or chemical fertiliser. In response, the Minister said they had 1,000 tons of organic fertiliser, and this has been distributed to farmers at a cost of D1,100.
“Do you have any smart organic programs that we need, to go in for organic manure rather than chemical fertiliser since the government is spending a lot on chemical fertiliser? the Member for Central Badibbu, Hon. Sulayman Saho asked.
The Minister replied that the Ministry is finalising the national fertiliser policy in which the use of organic fertiliser is highly captured, which will require them to spend at least 20% of the budget for fertiliser on the purchase of organic fertiliser. He stated that the country will continue with chemical fertiliser for some time to come, because all countries that are self-sufficient in food including those that are environmentally sensitive, are conscious of getting rid of chemical fertiliser.
The Member for Wuli East, Hon. Suwaibou Touray asked the Minister to state how they are taking care of the subsidy, and whether they are paying the difference to the importer or forgoing the collection of revenue that they should have collected. In his response, the Minister said the amount of money that the government forgoes is being spent as investment for farmers and that the amount used as subsidy is paid by the finance ministry as part of an overall investment for the farmers.
Hon. Musa Cham, Member for Serrekunda, asked the Minister to state where the organic manure is produced, and the Minister responded that the entire manure or organic fertiliser is locally produced.
