International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume IX, Issue VIII, August 2022 | ISSN 2321–2705
David Gomez1, Joseph Unobe Johnson1, Grace Nguemo Kpelai2, and Celestina Akpoghul3
1Department of Agriculture, Cape Point Bakau, Office of the Director General, The Gambia
2Centre for Food Technology and Research, Benue State University, Nigeria
3Department of Sociology, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria.
Abstract: This study on the challenges faced under the rice value chain programme Central River Region of The Gambia. The instruments used for data collection was Focus Group Discussion and in-depth interview. Simple random sampling was used to select sixteen (16) villages out of which three hundred and eighty-four (384) farmers were used for the study. The data collected were transcribed for all the focus group comments, the comments were rearranged to have answers grouped together for each interview protocol. The main ideas were organized into themes to generate an idea or ideas and quotations were identified for each theme. The findings were written in narrative to describe the themes with quotations. From the findings it was revealed that, farmers from the study area faced challenges ranging from inadequate machinery, fertilizer, seeds and market structures were some of the problems reported. From these findings it is recommended that Non-Governmental Organizations and investors should supplement government efforts by providing sufficient and quality inputs (seed/fertilizer/machinery) and credit facilities to the rice farmers at a subsidized rate and on time and strengthen the linkages between farmer groups/cooperatives with buyers (Producer-Buyer linkage) for easy market access.
Keywords: Rice, production, challenges, rice value chain, programme, Gambia
I. INTRODUCTION
Rice (Oryza spp.) belongs to the family of Graminae. It is a cereal grain grown in hot countries providing seeds that are used as food. Rice refers to two grass species (Oryza sativa and Oryza glaberrima) and is native to tropical and subtropical south-eastern Asia and to Africa. The plant measures 2-6 feet tall and has long, flat, pointy leaves and stalk-bearing flowers which produce the grain known as rice. Rice is related to other grass plants such as wheat, oats, and barley which produce grain for food and are known as cereals. Rice is rich in genetic diversity, with thousands of varieties grown throughout the world (IRRI. 2015). Rice is a dietary staple for at least 62.8% of the earth’s inhabitant’s and accounts for 20% of the caloric intake for the world population. In Asia, it accounts for 29.3% of caloric intake (Timmer, 2010). A Worldwide paddy (unprocessed) rice production averaged about 706.3 million tons during the period 2009/2011 and grew by about 4% to 736.9 million tons in 2012 (FAO, 2014). In 2012/13 the milled equivalent in a