The former director general of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has called on African nations to embrace and invest more in agriculture for a more sustained and economic development. Senegalese-born Jacque Diouf was speaking to reporters yesterday at State House shortly after meeting with the vice president and minister of Women’s Affairs Aja Dr Njie-Saidy at her office.

The former FAO boss, who was led to State House by the minister of Forestry and the Environment, Jatto Sillah, and officials of the FAO country team, opined that the real solution to the food crisis on the continent is to ensure more investment in agriculture in particular, and water control to be less dependent on the vagaries of the climate and rainfall. He said it was a great honour for him to be received by the vice president and expressed appreciation for the excellent cooperation FAO always had with the government of The Gambia.

Diouf explained that the visit will also give him the opportunity to bid farewell to the Gambian authorities, as his 18-year leadership at the FOA has ended. He added that the FAO has always provided friendly and effective support to The Gambia over the years. He continued: “But it was also an opportunity to underline the fact that The Gambia under the leadership of President Jammeh has given priority to agricultural development and food security, as he is the minister of Agriculture. We have also recognised the quality of the projects and programmes we have undertaken not only in crop production but also in animal husbandry, in fisheries and aquaculture, in forestry and the environment. I am hopeful that these programmes will be strengthened even further in the future.”  

With regards to the 2011 poor harvest experienced by most developing countries including The Gambia, the former FAO boss stated that they have issued an early-warning jointly with their colleagues at the WFP as well as at CILLS saying they have already identified the different factors that led them to believe there would probably be deficit in production. “Earnestly, we have worked with governments including the Gambia, to see ways and means by which we could address these problems. We will continue, I am sure, under the leadership of Musa Mbenga, as the coordinator for West Africa and do our best to try to deal with the situation,” he stated.

Arrival
Prior to meeting vice president Njie-Saidy, Dr Diouf told reporters immediately on arrival at the Banjul International Airport that The Gambia has made great efforts in crop production and productivity. He said if such trend continues, the country will score lots of developments in the area of agriculture.

He also said he came to the country as a Senegambian and as a brother to all Gambians to exchange views with the authorities as well as appreciate them for their immense support. He commended Gambia for the crucial rôle it played in the achievement of many of his targets during his tenure as the FAO director general.