A master farmer in Mattru Jong Pa Abu Bakarr Barrie working with other groups on a 10 acre swamp land has complained of lack of support for their rice production.
He told Awoko in Mattru Jong that he has been farming since the war ended, adding that the destruction during the war gave them the inspiration to form themselves into groups to embark on farming activities. Through this, he said, they have been able to cater for their wellbeing.
Explaining further Pa Barrie said that after harvesting, they reserve some portion of the rice for commercial purposes and the rest is used for family consumption.
He cried out for government’s support to bolster agriculture in their community saying “we are not receiving support from government in the area of seedling. Every bit of what we invest in agriculture is being financed by us”.
He said there is a lot of profit in agriculture if the government lays emphasis to enhance its effective productivity and encourage large scale farming.
Questioned on how they intend to improve their level of production if they offered assistance, he said they will relocate their farming activities to upland and cultivate a larger acreage, thereby increasing the yield that would in the end be commercialized and more used for consumption.
He argued that agriculture should not only encompass rice production, but the production of other goods that are fit for human consumption.
A practical example he suggested is cassava production, which mostly supplements rice especially during the rainy season.
In this regard says he has cultivated a vast land for cassava production and other necessary crops.
By Poindexter Sama and Ishmael Bayoh