By: Bakary Touray Jr
The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA) Mr. Mambury Njie, has told lawmakers “a total of 22 thousand households will benefit from additional food assistance”, through Gambia’s Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP).
The economic affairs chief released the “good news” during his budget statement at the National Assembly in Banjul, on Friday 4th December 2020.
Minister Njie avowed:“The COVID-19 pandemic has also affected the sector. As a result, the Ministry [of Agriculture] has put in place an emergency response plan to address the anticipated food shortage and support farmers.
“In collaboration with the World Food Programme,additional food assistance will be delivered to over 22,000 highly vulnerable households and up to70, 000 marginally food-insecure households,” the House heard.
Minister Njie disclosed the Ministry of Agriculture has played a key role in reviving 23 years of dormant cotton production in The Gambia. For the 2020/2021 cropping season, over one thousand farmers across 172 villages in Upper River Region (URR) and Central River Region CRR) registered with the National Cotton Producers and Marketing Cooperative of The Gambia, the Minister said in his speech.
He went on to state that the Government of The Gambia, through the Agric Ministry, has provided funds for the distribution of a number of agricultural machinery and equipment to farmers in 96 communities nationwide. The Government also introduced modern drip line irrigation systems in 21 women vegetable gardens to mitigate the effects of climate change.
In preparation for the 2020/2021 farming season, Njie continued, Government had purchased 310 metric tons of certified seeds through the National Seed Secretariat and distributed to farmers across the country.
He also told the lawmakers the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), through the National Agricultural Land and Water Development Project (NEMA), also purchased an additional 100 metric tons for further distribution. That, NEMA has committed to the procurement of an additional 20,000 bags of fertilizer for distribution to farmers.
The Finance minister added that through the Department of Livestock Services, with support from the Agriculture Value Chain Development, over 150 households benefitted from the enhancement of small ruminants production and fattening schemes.
“Over 135,000 animals were vaccinated; an awareness campaign for the rural communities and livestock farmers on foot and mouth diseases was conducted; and three livestock and 2 slaughterhouses were rehabilitated to meet food safety and zoo sanitary standards”, he enunciated.
The minister highlighted that with support from the Japanese Government, six hundred metric tons of fertilizers and fifty tons of groundnuts were provided to the farming community; that the Chinese Government, through its Embassy, has supported the Ministry with the supply of over 100 agricultural equipment and 10 metric tons of fertilizer; and to enhance rice production, the Rice Value Chain Transformation Project has purchased 1.5 metric tons of certified seeds for distribution to the Rice Growers Association and supplied farmers with labor-saving devices that have significantly reduced harvest and post-harvest loss, while also encouraging increased youth participation in agricultural activities.
