26 May 2017, Republic of Guinea: An FAO delegation, accompanied by representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, undertook a supervisory mission to the Republic of Guinea from 22 to 26 May 2017, to ensure the technical follow-up of the activities carried out in the framework of the Regional Partnership for Sustainable Rice Development in Sub-Saharan Africa project (GCP/RAF/489/VEN), funded by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The project, which targets 10 African countries (Benin, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda), aims to promote efficient and more productive rice systems for the enhancement of smallholder farmers’ food security, through the promotion of partnerships, sharing of development solutions, capacity building, and purchase of agricultural inputs and post-harvest processing equipment. In the Republic of Guinea, the project targets 400 households, or about 2 000 beneficiaries, within the prefectures of Boké, Boffa (Lower Guinea) Siguiri, Mandiana (Upper Guinea) and Beyla (Guinea Forestière).

Visit to the communities of Kolaboui and Koba

The mission travelled to Lower Guinea, more specifically to the Boké and Boffa prefectures, to participate in the ceremonies for the delivery of agricultural inputs to the beneficiaries of the communities of Kolaboui and Koba, namely 60 and 90 households respectively. Each household received 70 kg of rice seed, 50 kg of urea and 100 kg of fertilizers that were deposited in community storage stores. In order to ensure the sustainability of the project, the beneficiary farmers pledged to return the same quantities of rice at the end of the crop year to a Management Committee which will undertake, on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, the redistribution of the said rice seeds for the benefit of other farmers.

During the input ceremony held in Boké, Mr Youssouf Mané, Sub-Prefect of Kolaboui, expressed his satisfaction with the smooth running of the activities and emphasized the need to capitalize on the investment achieved, by allowing other farmers to benefit from support for future agricultural campaigns. He has therefore encouraged the community to make good use of inputs in order to obtain not only higher yields, but also higher quality rice, thus increasing incomes in the community and improving the living conditions of the villagers.

"The training provided in terms of cultural practices within the framework of the project, as well as the seeds and fertilizers distributed today, will enable us to exploit our farming perimeter, which is about 710 ha, and to start its seeding in the countryside in the near future, in time for the 2017 agricultural campaign," added Mr Karamoko Camara, in charge of the rice-growing area of the Kolaboui Community.

At the opening of the Boffa ceremony, Mr Ibrahima Camara, President of the Youth Cooperative for Agricultural Development in Guinea (COJDAGUI), stressed the importance of this support to the Koba Community. "It must be recognized that it is not easy to farm without agricultural inputs and equipment, and to have a good yield. It is an immense honour for all of us to receive this bonus, while leading farmers in the achievement food self-sufficiency in our country. Moreover, this project is in line with President Alpha Condé's policy of making youth employment one of its top priorities."

"Rice represents our basic diet. The M6 is a good variety and I am glad that FAO can help us cultivate it by creating an occupation for young people like me," said another young farmer from the community.

The project also includes the installation of two mini-mills with a capacity of two tonnes/hour and the provision of steaming and husking kits, which will facilitate the processing tasks of female workers.

Development of partnerships for the smooth running of activities

In each of the prefectures visited, partnerships were forged with representatives of the civil society, namely the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Friends of the World Club (CAM), for Boké, and the Association of Producers for the Exploitation of Perimeters (APEPA), for Boffa. Letter of agreement have been signed with these NGOs to ensure the implementation of activities on the ground, such as the identification of areas of intervention and groups to be supported, as well as their supervision during agricultural campaigns, the organization of trainings in rice cultivation and the distribution of agricultural inputs and equipment.

Another key partner in the implementation of the project is the Ministry of Agriculture. In fact, the supervisory mission met with the Minister, Ms Jacqueline Marthe Sultan, and the representatives of the Prefectural Directorates of Agriculture (DPA), to inform them of the progress of the project in the targeted agricultural areas and to define the modalities for the implementation of the next activities.

For more information: 

FAO South-South Cooperation website 

FAO South-South Cooperation Gateway