The
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry
of Agriculture (MOA) Friday signed a US$6.2 million agricultural project
entitled “Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change in The Gambia”.
The
signing, held at the ministry’s conference room, was presided over by the
Minister of Agriculture Omar Jallow and FAO country representative Dr Perpetua
Katepa-Kalala.
Speaking
at the ceremony, Omar Jallow, Minister of Agriculture, said the overall goal
was to support the government of The Gambia and her people to become climate
resilient, by mainstreaming both immediate and longer-term adaptation measures
into broader development framework at national level, as well as diversifying
and strengthening livelihood and sources of income for vulnerable people in the
intervention areas to reduce risks to climate change.
According
to Minister Jallow, the budget for the project was US$6.2 million for over four
years covering North Bank Region, Central River Region and Upper River Region.
These,
he said, are the regions that are most vulnerable and exposed to climate
impacts, with no-access or low-access to information, knowledge and education
and income targeting 5000 households in 10 districts.
The
Agriculture Minister further stated that the project seeks to reduce poverty on
rural households, address food insecurity and malnutrition through increased
agricultural production and productivity and commercialisation by strengthening
the livelihood and resilience of the targeted households and farming systems.
In
addition, the project would aim not only to diversify agricultural production
towards more drought tolerant crops, but it would also promote and support
livelihood alternatives.
He
added that the interventions would enable its beneficiaries to better cope with
climate change and adapt their agricultural practices, including livestock
management.
“Women
in particular 70 percent of the targeted households will benefit from more
secure livelihood assets, through the establishment of community gardens, with
irrigation systems, honey and poultry production,” he said.
Minister
Jallow thanked the GEF for agreeing to fund “this very important project”, and
FAO for their longstanding and continued support to the ministry and the
country.
Also
speaking was the FAO country representative, Perpetua Katepa-Kalala, who said
the project aims to support the implementation of immediate adaptation
priorities in the agriculture sector identified in the National Adaptation
Programme for Action (NAPA).
She
said the objective is to promote sustainable and diversified livelihood
strategies for reducing the impacts of climate variability and change in the
agriculture and livestock sector.
Dr
Katepa-Kalala added that the project will be implemented in 4 years with a
total budget of US$ 6.2 million (D279,620,000).
She
also dilated on the project, stating that it is in line with the FAO-Gambia
country programme framework, one of whose pillars focuses on resilience and
climate change adaptation.
The
FAO country representative thanked all the stakeholders and partners, for the
commitment manifested during the development of the project document.
She
also thanked the government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Agriculture
for the fruitful relationship with FAO and partners enjoyed by the Gambia
government.
The
FAO remains committed to working closely with the government of The Gambia and
all relevant stakeholders in the agriculture and natural resources sector for
the attainment of its goal, the FAO country representative said.
