By Kebba AF Touray
The Gambia’s Agriculture Minister, Dr. Demba Sabally, has told lawmakers that the government of the Gambia is in the process of acquiring 180 tractors for onward nationwide distribution to farmers.
Minister Sabally disclosed this information in response to a question put to him by the Member for Foni Bondali on Wednesday 4th December 2024, at the National Assembly.
Asked further, the Minister of Agriculture informed lawmakers that currently, a tractor is available at the mixed farming center in Kanjibat to provide services to farmers on a cost recovery basis, and said to ensure its sustainability, a structured plan is in place to utilize the proceeds for the procurement of additional tractors.
“Additionally, the government is in the process of acquiring 180 tractors which will be distributed under a payment plan strategically, nationwide”, he added.
Similarly, the Member for Foni Brefet Hon. Amie Colley asked Minister Sabally to tell them his Ministry’s plans to help women gardeners with storage facilities, especially in the West Coast Region, in order to prevent predatory middlemen from exploiting poor small-scale farmers in desperate situations during market closing hours, from selling their produce at giveaway prices.
In his response, Minister Sabally said his Ministry is working hard to change the narratives. He, however, said that the ROOTS project is currently building an onion curing factory in Foni Bintang Karanai District for smallholder farmers in Foni Brefet, which foundation stone was laid two months ago.
“We expect this to be completed in early 2025. In Foni Brefet specifically in Besse village, a functional onion curing facility has been built by the Ministry in conjunction with the FAO. Brikama will benefit from an 18-ton capacity cold storage facility that is also being built by the ROOTS project,” Minister Sabally said.
When asked by the member for Sandu, Hon. Ebrima Jaiteh about his Ministry’s plans to redo the Changally rice fields after they were damaged by the contractors causing reduced yields, Minister Sabally said Changally rice fields will be rehabilitated by the ROOTS Project. He reported that feasibility studies and detailed designs have been finalized, and work is expected to start next year, following the completion of the procurement process.
Ashed of immediate plans to provide Sandu with solar-powered gardens, the Minister informed the assembly that the garden in Sandu Misira, is being completed and rehabilitated and will be equipped with a solar-powered irrigation facility through the ROOTS Project under the Ministry of Agriculture.
