The Director General of National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) Babou Jobe has urged Gambian farmers to diversify into maize production rather than concentrating only on Nerica rice.

He made this remarks during an interview with our reporter at his office in Brikama. He pointed out that Gambia farmers have registered success in the area of Nerica rice production over the past three years and therefore need to diversify into other areas particularly maize.

He revealed that they have six good seed varieties that farmers can use, and described maize as just like the Nerica rice in terms of field potential. He highlighted the importance of the crop, adding that it is a high potential crop that can help achieve food security and poverty reduction.

Jobe stated that maize has multiple uses and that Gambian farmers should be aware of its potentials as it can also be cultivated as a cash crop. He went on to emphasise that access to food security is important at all times and that to achieve it, farmers have to diversify by participating in the production of maize.