ARTICLE - TAIWAN - FOOD SHORTAGE

TAIWAN PROVIDES US $3 MILLION TO CURB FOOD SHORTAGE
(AllAfrica) - By Amadou Jallow

Taiwan has provided the sum of US$3 million to Gambia to buy 2,300 metric tones of seeds and import 1,360 metric tones of fertilizer to help the country ride out of the food shortage that resulted from last year's crop failure.

This was disclosed yesterday by the Taiwanese ambassador to Gambia, Samuel Chen, during the opening of a 10-day seminar on crop production and cultivation with special focus on rice for the Africa region and Haiti currently underway at the Ocean Bay Hotel in Cape Point, Bakau.

The seminar organised by the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) through its Technical Mission in the country and sponsored by the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF), brought together over 17 participants from Swaziland, Haiti and Gambia for discussion and building the capacity of participants on crop production and cultivation.

According to Ambassador Chen, maintaining food security is a crucial policy in Gambia, with rice as one of the most important staple food of its people, adding that Taiwan is glad to share her knowledge to her friends and diplomatic allies.

Ambassador Chen noted that the Taiwanese Technical Mission (TTM) in the past years had established cooperation with the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) in the rice seeds storing system and this has achieved great progress in improving new seeds and at the same time, the mission has also helped to cultivate 24,000 hectares of new rice land. He promised that they will continue this task to reach the 32,000 hectares target at the end of this year.

The Taiwanese ambassador hinted that the technical mission will also plan to improve NARI's capability to face future challenges.

While deliberating on Gambia's crop failure in the last farming season, Ambassador Chen observed that this was due to the effects of climate change, which reduced the total crop production. He said it is unfotunate that the natural environment of Gambia does not favour large-scale rice production, which calls for urgency, for the use of scientific knowledge and technology to increase rice producion.

The Taiwanese diplomat also expressed appreciation to ICDF for selecting Banjul as the venue for the 2012 workshop on rice production and cultivation, adding that the move demonstrates that ICDF pays much attention to the value of Gambia.

In her opening remarks, the permanent secretary No.2 at the Ministry of Agriculture, Ada Gaye said rice is one of the major staple foods in Gambia and its increased cultivation must be the business of all. The seminar, she said is a step in the right direction as it will help enhance increases in crop cultivation, particularly rice.

PS Gaye lauded the leadership of President Jammeh, citing his advice to Gambians to involve themselves in agriculture and grow what they eat, and eat what they grow.

She thanked the government and people of Taiwan through their Banjul Embassy for maintaining cordial and supportive ties with Gambia. She also commended the Taiwanese Technical Mission in Gambia for its commitment and contribution to the development of Gambia.

Babou Jobe, the director general of NARI said the building capacity of crop production and cultivation is an important move and will help increase Gambia's crop production. He told the gathering that domestic efforts to increase rice production is something that continues to be frustrated, observing that lack of improved seeds also acts as a barrier to increasing the production of rice. He finally thanked the Taiwanese Technical Mission for the support it is giving Gambia.