Jongfolo Korta looks at her rice field with satisfaction. She is among the many small farmers in the Eastern region of Jahally, in The Gambia, where agriculture is thriving.
“I’ve applied fertilizer to the rice field, and now I have ploughing services using tractors that are available at the right time. So, I’m optimistic that this year my harvest will increase,” she said.
Like many others in The Gambia, Jongfolo has relied on rice production for over five decades. She and many others are experiencing the advantages of the country’s transition from subsistence farming to a more productive and competitive agriculture sector with increased surplus to sell making it more market-oriented. This drive has been supported by the World Bank’s Gambia Inclusive and Resilient Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (GIRAV).
A component of the project competitively selected 19 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) out of 127 applicants and provided them with additional financing. In total, the project provided $3.9 million, while the SMEs themselves contributed a total of $2.6 million from privately mobilized capital and their own funding. The overall investment was used by the SMEs to finance infrastructure and equipment so that they can modernize and expand agribusiness operations.
Modernization in The Gambia’s agriculture sector is evident through developing new infrastructure such as improved irrigation systems, agro-processing platforms, and agro-logistic centers to serve as marketing infrastructure. These progressions are used on farms across the country to enhance better irrigation systems and machinery.
Bakaf Farm, located at Bantajang village in Foni, Bondali District, stands as a testament. This small enterprise which produces onions has used the investment to upgrade its irrigation and equipment.
Bakaf Farm’s managing director Sulayman Cessay exemplifies a spirit of entrepreneurship and dedication to agribusiness. Thanks to the GIRAV project, Cessay decided to invest in ramping up his onion production.
“We‘ve obtained new machines from this grant. With it, we’ve been able to expand our production by an additional 16 hectares. We are now expecting an additional 448 tons of onions from this year’s harvest,” said M. Sulayman Cessay proudly.
Not only has the new investment boosted the farm’s annual production; it has also created work for more than 100 local women.
In a similar vein, Sabiji Poultry Farm in Sukuta has made significant investments to modernize and expand its infrastructure. With support from the project, Kemo Cham, CEO and founder of the farm built three modern poultry battery units to house more egg-laying chickens and a feeding mill.
"I saw the advertisement from the Ministry of Agriculture about a grant awarded to young Gambians for agriculture projects," said Kemo Cham "Thanks to matching grant from GIRAV we have expanded having 7k chickens now sixty thousand."
Nestled in Central River Region Maruo Farms' roots intertwined local rice farmers fortunes with World Bank's support acquiring fleet modern ploughing milling machines providing services other farms
Kalipha Jammeh CEO founder Burong Wolal Ltd private youth owned rice production processing enterprise happy services getting Maruo Farm lighten financial load farmers pay Maruo Farm rice harvested paddy field
“Before due lack machines spent two months managing six hectares rice production Now machines tractors Maruo Farms our production much faster” said Kalipha Jammeh “And good someone provide these services because don’t worry maintenance other costs”
To help measure results equipped extension workers tablets training record data specific applications leveraging digital tools connect farmers businesses institutions involved distribution seeds fertilizer
To further enhance Gambia’s agribusiness sector program building logistics facilities Wassu Sami District Macca Farafenni Upper Baddibou District centers offer crucial services farmers entrepreneurs sorting packing produce dry cold storage transport
Since women play important role Gambia’s agriculture scale efforts previous World Bank project helped twenty-one women-led agribusinesses equipment solar-powered water pumps drip irrigation systems GIRAV hopes expand reach total forty agribusiness farms within next two years
The project also helped increase adoption climate-smart agriculture technologies improved vegetable seeds drip irrigation build country resilience boost food nutrition security
Kemo Cham Sabiji emphasized importance agriculture his country “If problem solved food security guaranteed”
However Gambia means more sector contributes around twenty percent GDP employs almost half labor force unlock full potential transforming dominated subsistence-oriented rainfed crops livestock GIRAV support small medium agribusiness step right direction
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