The
deputy minister of Agriculture, Sherrifo Bojang, on Tuesday presided over the
official opening of a three-day National Restitution Seminar.
The
three-day convergence underway at a hotel in Kololi was organised by the
Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) in collaboration with ECOWAP, NEPAD and CAADP
Horizon 2025.
The
restitution workshop is to launch the development process of the second
generation GNAIP 2.0 for agricultural transformation in The Gambia. GNAIP is
the national blueprint for the development of Gambia’s agriculture sector.
Deputy
Minister Bojang said there has been renewed commitment to the African Union
Commission/New Partnership for Africa Development-pioneered process for the
development of comprehensive regional agricultural programme.
This
is in pursuit of Africa agricultural growth and transformation goal for the
period 2016-2025 endorsed by the African Union heads of states and governments
in Malabo in 2014.
The
development of comprehensive agricultural process entailed developing regional
agricultural investment plans, and national agricultural and food security
investment plans.
The
deputy minister noted that it is through accelerating agricultural
transformation in The Gambia that the country be self-sufficient in food.
“Indeed,
the country has achieved a significant progress over the last ten years in the
areas of land development, water control, input supply, partnership
development, modernisation of equipment and strategic plan development,” he
said.
He,
however, noted that the effort of the country in the implementation of GNAIP
1.0 was challenged especially with regards to funding, leading to low
achievement of set targets.
Mr
Bojang stated that the next generation of GNAIP should include development of
an inclusive approach, the inclusion of women and youth, rethinking in
agricultural development, develop value chains, and support to enable
agricultural productivity.
“We
must also develop advocacy for better repositioning of agriculture on the
agenda nationally,” he affirmed.
