Abdoulai G. Dibba
The Agriculture Taskforce Report that was scheduled to be tabled before cabinet on Thursday 12th September 2019, has been deferred due to the president’s trip abroad.
The Taskforce was constituted by the Ministry of Agriculture and partners to assess the impact of the late start and long dry spell of this year’s cropping season and its impact on the farming community. They have completed their assessment and handed over their report to the Ministry of Agriculture.
According to our source, the tabling of report has been deferred because the president has travelled to Qatar.
“There was no cabinet meeting because the president has travelled to Qatar and he is coming on Thursday and will inaugurate the Banjulinding road on Friday,” our source said.
Readers can recall the Agriculture Minister’s nationwide tour which commenced on Monday 19th August 2019, was meant to assess the impact of this year’s late start and long dry spell which marred the beginning of this year’s cropping season and the farming community, as well as its impact on the projects under her Ministry and on the livelihood of farmers.
Farmers told the Minister that the cropping season had all the attributes of failure because few farmers sowed their seeds at the beginning of the rains.
Responding to their concerns, Agric. Minister Amie Fabureh told farmers that a taskforce was constituted to assess the cropping season and will prepare a report at the end of their assessment which will be handed to Government for the necessary steps to be taken to address their plight.
