Dr Patrick Chang, Taiwanese Ambassador to The Gambia, over the weekend, inaugurated D2.5 million fish pond project, at Sapu in Central River Region.

Suwareh Jabai, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Department of State for Fisheries and Water Resources, presided over the ceremony, which was also attended by members of the Jahally Farmers Cooperative Society and the experts of the Taiwanese Technical Mission, stationed in Sapu.

In his welcoming remarks, Dr James Tsay,   Head of TTM, said his mission has facilitated the construction of four buildings, which is powered by a generator for   the supply of pond aeration (paddle-wheel and air compressor), feed manufacturing, among others.

Dr Tsay informed the gathering that the field has 10 mini-ponds for fish-rearing, including ponds of about 1,000 square metres to provide large-scale fingerling production and fish growing. He said the area also has a medium size pond of 3,000 square meters for growing fish to marketable sizes.

Suwareh Jabai, Deputy Permanent Secretary at DoSF and WR, who deputised for the Secretary of State, Yankuba Touray, expressed delight at the numerous interventions of the Taiwanese government in national development process of The Gambia, especially in the area of agriculture.

DPS Jabai said the increased in population growth and the fear of over fishing, have encouraged urgent need for alternative source of   fishing. He said this was why the government of The Gambia, through its Department of Fisheries requested from Taiwan to finance the Aquaculture Project in the country.

Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Jahur Sillah, lauded the numerous projects introduced by the TTM, in Jahally and its surroundings, noting that the cooperation between the two countries has yielded a lot of benefits. “Farmers are very happy for this project and the contributions that have been done by the Taiwanese”, he said.

Sourry Trawally, Alkalo of Saruja, called on Gambians to take charge of the destiny for possible improvement.

In his inaugural statement, Dr Patrick Chang, Taiwanese Ambassador to The Gambia, expressed delight with the hospitality accorded to his technical mission by the communities of Jahally. He also thanked them for cooperating with the team.

Ambassador Chang, said agriculture is the backbone of every country’s development and then assured that his country will continue to support Gambian farmers in the sector, especially in the area of rice production.

He commended President Jammeh for the importance   attaches to agriculture, noting that the Aquaculture Project will contribute to the socio-economic development of the country. “I am glad to see that you people have come to join the farm”, he told the farmers.

He said the project will complement current efforts for the attainment of food self-sufficiency for the country by 2015. He disclosed that an aquacultural specialist will conduct diploma course on aquaculture for Gambians at the project site

Other speakers at the inauguration included Famara Darboe, Principal Fisheries Officer at DoSF & WR, and Kelvin Chen, Aquaculture Specialist.

Sulayman Jallow, Station Manager National Agricultural Research Institute in Sapu, chaired the ceremony.

In a separate development, the dignitaries visited the newly established rural broadcasting radio station at Brikama-ba, which was renovated by TTM to enable it disseminate information and cover the farming activities of   communities.