Mr. Musa Dampha, the Director Department of Extension Service of National Agricultural Development Agency (NADA), recently met with farmers at the Sapu agricultural station. In his address during the meeting, Mr. Dampha told farmers: “To ensure food security, we cannot depend entirely on tidal irrigation.”

According to Mr. Dampha, pump irrigation is a matter of necessity in some areas, noting that areas with potential arable land should be supported to increase crop productivity.

For his part the Regional Agricultural Co-ordinator (RAC) for CRR South, Mr. Mbemba Dahaba, said the purpose of the meeting is to sensitize farmers on the revival of pump- irrigated rice growing schemes in order to boost rice production.

He said that the meeting focused attention on five major areas of concern for any successful pump rice irrigation, such as irrigation pumps, canals, tractors/power tillers, fertilizers which, he added, needed to be adequately addressed for any successful or economic returns, he added.

The RAC for CRR North, Mr. Lang K. Kinteh, also pointed out that rice irrigation schemes agreed on accessing funds as a means of production to enable them acquire enough fuel for activities and they could stand on their own through contributions of farm Kafoos and other saving devices.