Ahead of this year’s farming season with rainfall to soon commence intensely, Master Farmers’ Cooperative Association (MaFCA), a union of dedicated farmers in The Gambia, has acquired three Massey Faguson tractors and a Mercedes Benz mini truck for their farming activities.
The farmers’ association acquired the tractors on credit provided by the Social Development Fund (SDF), with the four machineries amounting to a whopping D8.5 million plus. The procurement and supply of the machinery were carried out by Swe-Gam Limited.
The development aligns with the Rural Rice Value Chain Project (RRVCP), whose microfinance component is being steered by the SDF.
Established in 1998 under the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA), the SDF has spearheaded a number of noteworthy initiatives over the years.
During the handing-over ceremony at the Swe-Gam grounds in Kanifing, Omar Saidykhan, administration manager at SDF, on behalf of the SDF board and senior management, noted that SDF has been partnering with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security under the Rural Rice Value Chain Project, and thanks to that project, “we are witnessing this historic moment”.
“What I want to advise the beneficiaries is to let them make the best use of these equipment. We believe if they make the best of these equipment, the sky would be the limit,” he said, adding that they are hopeful of a successful agreement.
MaFCA’s President Sheikh Drammeh stated: “Our agenda is to eradicate hunger in The Gambia. We don’t have enough and we are not strong, but we have put our hands on deck and pull resources together to create something tangible.”
He relayed how they have been able to secure capital through financial services to buy machines, fertilisers and other agricultural inputs. He emphasised independence, in the truest sense of the term, to mean food self-sufficiency, which is their goal.
“We have decided that The Gambia would no more beg to eat, but rather feed itself,” he said. “We are ready to work tirelessly to cultivate all the significant crops, staples such as corn, millet, rice and the rest. A country cannot stand if it cannot feed itself,” he underlines, saying there is a need to engage Agriculture ministry, which MaFCA aims to do.”
Also, deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Saikhou E. Sanyang, delved into the significance of agriculture for economic growth and national development.
He said their responsibilities involve coming up with robust national policies and strategies, and offering technical advice to farmers.
He added that they are also responsible for monitoring the activities of the Regional Rice Value Chain Project (RRVCP), which warranted collaboration with SDF to ensure the availability of tractors to MaFCA.
He urged the association to pay the loan in time to ensure others get the same opportunity, advising them to make good use of the machineries.
He noted they have an open door policy and would be ready to deepen their relationship and work together in this common endeavour to boost agriculture.
Ebrima Cole, managing director of Swe-Gam, which procured and supplied the trucks, equally emphasised the significance of agriculture in nation-building. He said the lifespan of tractors depends on the drivers and operators. He added that a tractor should go up to 40 years, underscoring the significance of maintenance and care.
He promised his team would follow the tractors and conduct further training for those who would be operating the tractors for the MaFCA
He also extended his gratitude to the stakeholders, as well as to the Swe-Gam administration and mechanical teams, whose commitment during the process “proved instrumental”.
