The handing-over was held at Pacharr in CRR with equipment such as 10 tractors; 200 metric tons of rice seeds, 500 metric tons of fertilizer and herbicides, symbolic handing over of 6 District Stores and 11 drying floors.
It aimed at boosting local rice production, reducing high importation of rice and enhancing economic growth through improved production, processing, and marketing, and enhancing private sector participation.
The project intervention covers Central River Region north and south (CRRN-S), and Upper River Region (URR).
The PRVCDP is co-funded by the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (IsDB), Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and the Government of the Gambia (GoTG) and was effective May 2020.
The project’s major target is to develop 3,265 ha of rice fields to add to the existing ones, with the development of these lands complemented by farm machinery such as tractors and power tillers.
Infrastructure such as grain stores, drying floors and access road, microfinance loans to farmers and the private sector among many other supports that the project would provide, will support the country’s overall aim of attaining rice self-sufficiency.
Dr. Demba Sabally, the minister for Agriculture, said the project is significant to supporting government's efforts to substantially increase the production of rice using the private sector value chain led approach. He added that it will also increase smallholder farmers’ income and reduce poverty and food insecurity and thus improve the livelihood of the rural population. “It also creates commercial opportunities for targeted rice farmers with the objective to create access to markets.”
Minister Sabally noted the tractors will be given to cooperatives and the private sector.
"This follows the project’s philosophy of enhancing rice production through a private sector led approach," he added.
"The seeds support to farmers is expected to immensely contribute to productivity enhancement in this dry season and the upcoming season."
"The project today is also handing-over 500MT of high quality fertiliser, comprising 333MT of NPK 15:15:15 and 167MT of Urea. These fertilisers have been tested and confirmed to be of good quality and suitable for use," he noted, while adding 5625 kg of herbicides and 80 liters of pesticides would also be distributed to cooperatives.
Minister Sabally thanked IsDB and BADEA for the support and President Barrow for his commitment to acquire equipment for farmers.
Mustapha Drammeh, deputy director of Agriculture, expressed his delight at the project. "The Department of Agriculture by extension the Ministry and the government of The Gambia are well concerned about the welfare of farmers," he said.
He advised the beneficiaries to make best use of the equipment and inputs, saying if handled properly, will benefit farmers to expectation.
Lamin K. Saidy, presidential advisor on Youth Matters, said the project was a clear manifestation that the Barrow administration is committed to empowering farmers.
He admitted that several Gambian youth have now shifted attention to agriculture, while calling on more youth to avoid the irregular migration to Europe and embark on farming to enhance national development especially food security and poverty reduction.
Representing the governor of CRR, Deputy Governor Sainey Mbaye commended The Gambia government through the Ministry of Agriculture for empowering the rural farmers.
"These equipment will ease farming and contribute to the development of Agriculture in the country," Mbaye, himself a farmer, said.
