NBR — Saaba Newtown women's group of Lower Baddibu, recently harvested 6 hectares of communal Nerica farm in Saaba.

The six-hectare Nerica Rice field was supported by Gambia Rice Project under the Taiwanese Technical Mission and Gambia government especially in terms of the provision of high yield and improved Nerica seed, and fertilizer to selected women farmers.

Speaking at the occasion, Musukebba Balajo, lady president of Newtown rice growers' association, underscored the importance the group attaches to the attainment of food security, noting that the cultivation of Nerica would enable many households to realise food self-sufficiency. The women commend Taiwanese government for partnering with Gambia Rice Project and for their support in the countryÂ's food security.

Foday Gassama, the secretary to the womenÂ's group, said the proceeds of the farm would be used to provide high yield seeds to many farmers and to ensure that rural households realise food self-sufficiency and contribute to poverty reduction. A total of 48 participated in both the planting and harvesting of the communal. The proceeds of the farm, he revealed would be used to meet seed requirement of families and women farmers in particular. Gassama thanked women for their cooperation and understanding in the implementation of group development projects, citing the frequent clean-up exercise as a clear example.

Addressing the women farmers in Saaba, Alphu J Marong, regional Agriculture director for North Bank region, thanked women for contributing immensely towards the countryÂ's quest to attaining food security and improved the livelihood. He the new for Africa commonly known as Nerica, enabled many abandoned land to be now under cultivation and noted that the shift of groundnut cultivation to Nerica was as a result of severe soil degradation and high cost of fertilizer. Â"The total land size cultivated in Saaba is 51 hectares, out of which a total of 3,060kgs is Nerica seeds, 5100kgs and 2550kgs is fertilizers.

The women outnumbered the men of which 19 male and 168 females. This indicates that men need to redouble their efforts in promoting rice cultivation to help the country attain food security,Â" remarked. The director then thanked their major partners such as Taiwanese government isupporting the presidentÂ's call for the attainment of food security by 2012. Marong further said that the region would be realising good harvest on groundnut and rice as compared to other cereals, simply due to untimely application of fertilizer and in some instance lack of fertilizer application in last season. He revealed that regionally a total of 1330 male and 2468 women farmers from 23 villages participated in Gambia Rice Project in a to bid increase food production.

Speaking on behalf of beneficiaries, Fatoumata Jammeh and Buramanding Bajo, used the opportunity to appeal to the Ministry of Agriculture, embassy of Taiwan and FAO to assist them with farm implements notably rice thresher and milling machine, in order to reduce heavy workload on women and by extension improve their health status.