“Finance Minister Admitted In His Budget Speech”
VOL:1 ISSN:29 In delivering the 2010 Budget to The Gambian people, the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Hon. Abdou Kolley indicated that the Government of The Gambia continues to collaborate closely with the donor community, private sector and Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), in order to improve agricultural productivity and national food security. .
He noted that agriculture continues to be the most important sector as it employs 70-80 percent of the population and generates over 60 percent of household incomes. “The sector performed reasonably well during the 2008/2009 cropping season with increase in area and production for most crops,” he said.
According to him, the total cereal production is estimated at 284,700 tons comprising 223,700 tons of coarse grain and 61,000 tons of paddy rice. The coarse grain cereal production is 10.5 percent above that of last year and 27.8 per cent above the last 5-years average.
He noted that agriculture continues to be the most important sector as it employs 70-80 percent of the population and generates over 60 percent of household incomes. “The sector performed reasonably well during the 2008/2009 cropping season with increase in area and production for most crops,” he said.
According to him, the total cereal production is estimated at 284,700 tons comprising 223,700 tons of coarse grain and 61,000 tons of paddy rice. The coarse grain cereal production is 10.5 percent above that of last year and 27.8 per cent above the last 5-years average.
