The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) Horticultural Fruit Pioneer Project under 'The Gambia Fruit Test Planting Project' on Monday made the first harvest from the Project's Pineapple plants in Banjulinding.

A land area of 1225 square meters accommodated three varieties of Pineapples from Taiwan namely -Tainung Number 17, Tainung Number 20 and Tainung Number 3. The Pineapples were planted since 26th July 2011 and through the growing process of one year four months, the project has been finally successful, producing varieties of sweet and succulent produce.

The Taiwanese ambassador to The Gambia, Samuel Chen, and the director general of NARI, Dr. Babou Jobe, attended the harvest. They also used the opportunity to discuss extension ideas for the project in the future.

The Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) is the cooperation agency that is working with NARI in this project and in the next phase, NARI will extend to the Regional Agricultural Stations in Sapu (CRR), Giroba Kunda (Basse) and Chamen (NBR). It is estimated that in about one and half years, the Gambian Pineapple can be harvested in some regions within 18 months. Pineapples presently consumed in The Gambia are imported from Senegal, Guinea (Conakry) and Cote d'Voire.