During the quarterly Presidential Delivery Forum at the State House in Banjul, the Ministry of Agriculture reported distributing eleven thousand bags of fertilizer at no cost, separate from heavily subsidized fertilizer for farmers. Additionally, over 200 metric tonnes of rice seeds and 400 tonnes of maize seeds were distributed to farmers nationwide at no charge. The Ministry also reported ploughing over nine thousand hectares of land for farmers and subsidizing costs to increase crop yields by promoting healthy plant growth.
After President Barrow challenged the private sector to engage in commercial agriculture to boost rice production in The Gambia, the Ministry has been supporting private and commercial sectors in tackling financial challenges. The Minister for Agriculture Honourable Demba Sabally announced his Ministry’s support of over twenty million Dalasi grants to enhance farmers’ access to finance and resilience. “This will increase productivity and production,” said the Minister. One of the new entrants in commercial rice cultivation, Jah Oil, has developed 1,200 hectares of land in the Central River Region for industrial rice production. Marou Farms and other commercial farmers are beneficiaries of support from agriculture projects, including rice seeds, technical assistance, and sometimes financial support.
The Ministry also reported establishing the National Rice Secretariat under the Gambia Accelerated Rice Sufficiency Initiative (GARSI), which will be responsible for aggregating all activities regarding rice in the country and creating a pathway for rice self-sufficiency.
Reacting to the presentation, President Barrow expressed his satisfaction with the presentation and encouraged the Ministry to double their efforts.
At its appearance at the third quarter of the Delivery Forum, the Ministry of Agriculture updated the Presidency on its recent achievements and developments since its last appearance in March 2024.
