By Maimuna Sey Jawo
Farmers across the country have called on the government to ensure no further delay in the supply of fertilizer, complaining that the past few years have been very bad with farmers having to wait until the rains start before receiving fertlizers.
They said this often affects productivity and leads to poor harvest.
They made this call on Monday at the beginning of the on-going five day tour of the Minister of Agriculture, Amie Fabureh.
The tour is designed to provide her with a chance to meet farmers and find out their challenges.
The Minister was accompanied by project directors from her ministry, agriculture officials, national assembly members, regional governors, chiefs among others.
At a meeting in Medina Sering Mass, Alkalo Mass Khan described the Minister’s visit as timely, saying farmers have already begun to lose hope in the rainy season with some farmers yet to complete sowing their seeds due to poor rain fall.
He said government fertilizer does not only come late but it is often inadequate or in some cases not available at all.
Momodou Leigh, a farmer from Njau in the Central River Region North, expressed similar sentiments.
In response, Minister Amie Fabureh assured farmers that their constraints are noted and promised to act on them as soon as practically possible.
She said government is very much interested in the affairs of farmers hence her visit.
She noted with sadness the poor rain fall reported and stated that her ministry will look at measures to make life easy for the farmers.
She advised farmers to also diversify their work by engaging in poultry production, animal husbandry, gardening among other activities.
