By Yero S. Bah
The number of Gambian Agropreneurs had been rapidly increasing in recent years with investments in agriculture, especially in the areas of gardening, also increasing exponentially as Gambians in the diaspora continue to register successes in this vital sector.
One such diasporan Gambian agric investor who lives in the United Kingdom (UK) is Mr. Alpha Baldeh. He runs a 200×200 hectares farm in Sotokoi, Kombo East, West Coast Region.
Mr. Modou Lamin Fofana is the Agronomist supervising Baldeh’s ‘Onlifresh Farm’. He recalled the farm project started in January 2020 and since then, numerous progresses had been made as they envisaged contributing immensely towards the country’s drive to attaining food self-sufficiency. He vouched that the farm proprietor (Baldeh) has strong motives towards the development of the agricultural sector in the Gambia.
During a one-on-one interview with this online medium at Sotokoi village, Fofana admitted that initially, they had experienced several hurdles from January to April because the first Farm Coordinator “wasn’t dedicated enough” and that hindered their progress; but later they were able to hire another Coordinator who, in his words, “is focused” and currently coordinates and implements the farming activities on the ground.
The former Community Development Officer now agronomist informed Mansa Banko Online that Onlifresh Farm has signed a contract with Tropingo Foods worth D400,000 for the production of 20 to 40 tons of fresh okra from September. And that the same company is also interested in signing another contract on chili pepper whilst negotiations are ongoing to lease another fifteen (15) hectares in order to achieve their targets.
On the availability of market in the Gambia, he said the market is not favourable and that most of the crops are also perishable. Noting most Gambian farmers don’t know the production calendar of this country, Fofana argued if farmers knew the production calendar then they stand a chance of cultivating crops according to seasons and they would earn more because lesser produce would perish along.
“Every crop has its own time in the Gambia, just try to know this and you will make it in agriculture,” he asserted. He indicated that their three-plot eggplant numbering 2,700 plants would fetch 20,000 to 40,000 dalasis on a weekly basis, whenever harvesting commences, whilst 599 sweet pepper plants earn them D15,000; and from the tomatoes they equally generate 15,000 after harvest. Fofona made it clear that the production cost is not that costly as others would think, adding they have their production calendar and plans.
The ambitious farmer further said they face numerous challenges such as lack of storage facilities, transportation and water supply, and he therefore, called on the Gambia government to do more in helping Gambian farmers in such areas, in order to improve the agricultural sector and productivity. He opined that government isn’t putting enough focus on agriculture to feed the citizenry.
Describing the Proprietor of Onlifresh Farm as a visionary and ambitious personality, Fofana used this interview to enjoin other Gambians with the financial wherewithal, especially those in abroad, to emulate Alpha Baldeh by investing in agriculture so as to help feed the nation, besides creating job opportunities for youth at home. He said they are looking for any possible support from the Gambia Government as well as NGOs, revealing that currently, Proprietor Baldeh himself finances entirely everything, to run the farm.
For the Farm Coordinator, Mr. Abdoulie Suso, agriculture is the way forward describing it as ‘wonderful’. He said they cultivate different crops in the farm such as findi, watermelon, maize, garden eggs, okra, bitter tomatoes, sweet pepper, chili peppers, as well as cucumber in various hectares.
Meanwhile, the invasion of the crops by rats and rabbits during the night is another challenge as the issue of water was remedied when a borehole was dug there to ameliorate the water crisis at the beginning of the adventure.
The Farm Coordinator enthused that there is profit in agriculture, noting he usually hires several women for weeding and mostly take in other youth for the watering of crops, particularly during the dry season. At the moment they are using a generator but he said their target is to get solar because it’s more environmentally friendly and also sustainable.
The Onlifresh Farm official encouraged Gambian youth to join the sector, maintaining that it’s one of the fastest areas of making money in the Gambia.
