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Farmers receive livestock and machines to beef up support against food insecurity in CRR

Apr 30, 2026, 2:19 PM | Article By: Ismaila Sonko

Hundreds of farmers in the Central River Region (CRR) stand to benefit from renewed agricultural support following the official handing over of small ruminants and processing machines under Project 2 of the Programme to Strengthen Resilience to Food and Nutrition Insecurity in the Sahel (P2-P2RS).

The ceremony, held on Tuesday in Sololo and Sapu in Bansang, brought together government officials, project partners, and farmer groups to witness what authorities described as a key step in strengthening rural livelihoods and food security.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Governor of CRR, Sainabou Mbye, welcomed the initiative, describing it as timely support for farming communities facing growing economic and climate-related pressures.

Project Director of P2-P2RS, Ansumana Njie said the intervention forms part of a broader effort to improve nutrition, income, and resilience among smallholder farmers.

He disclosed that the project had already delivered 100 small ruminants in an earlier phase, with another batch handed over at the ceremony as part of a target to distribute at least 300 goats and sheep.

He urged beneficiaries to adhere to the project’s revolving scheme, which requires first-generation offspring to be passed on to other households to widen the impact.

“This is not a one-off support. It is meant to create a chain of benefits across communities,” he said.

Programme Coordinator at the Central Project Coordinating Unit (CPCU), Mamour Alieu Jagne, commended the initiative but called for scaling up such interventions to achieve national impact. He noted that increasing local livestock production could help reduce reliance on imports, especially during major religious festivals.

Dr Abdou Ceesay of the Department of Livestock Services highlighted the importance of improving livestock genetics and veterinary support to boost productivity. He assured farmers of continued technical assistance to ensure the success of the programme.

Agriculture Minister Demba Sabally described the initiative as part of government’s broader strategy to enhance food self-sufficiency and build resilience in the face of climate change. Dr Sabally noted that, alongside livestock distribution, the project has also provided processing machines to reduce post-harvest losses and improve value addition.

The support targets vulnerable households, particularly women, officials said, adding that the support is expected to improve household incomes while strengthening community-level food systems.

The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to modernise agriculture and expand opportunities for smallholder farmers across the country.

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