QUESTION OF THE DAY
WILL GOVERNMENT STOP THE IMPORTATION OF RICE BY 2016?
In 2014 the Country imported 1.9 Billion Dalasis worth of rice. In its drive for food self sufficiency the Government carried out projects such as NEMA, FASDEP and GCAV which were supposed to inject 130 Million dollars or 5.2 billion Dalasis in investment in Agriculture.
In 2014 it was estimated that the country needed 200,000 tons of rice but was able to produce approximately 46,000 tons.
The devastation of rice fields by flood has increased food insecurity in the Jahally Pacharr Perimeters, in URR where 243 hectares went under water ; 173 hectares also suffered the same fate in the Kuntaur area ; Sutukung, Pakaliba Darsilami all fell in the same trap. The flooded rice fields should serve as an early warning signal that Vision 2016 is not achievable.
Hence the Government should be quick to declare a National Disaster and inform importers that they should continue to import rice until further notice.
