By Madiba Singhateh
The Ministry of Agriculture, in partnership with the Government of South Korea, has launched the K-Rice Belt Project in The Gambia. The $5.6 million grant-funded initiative was unveiled on Tuesday, 26 August 2025, at a local hotel in Banjul.
The project, formally titled “Development of Africa Rice Seed Cultivation Complex in The Gambia,” seeks to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries while improving rice seed production, supply systems, and food self-sufficiency in The Gambia. It is part of a broader K-Rice Belt program being implemented in seven African countries—Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, Cameroon, Guinea, Senegal, and The Gambia.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Agriculture Demba Sabally commended South Korea for its continued support, noting that the grant, equivalent to over 7 billion Korean won, would help transform rice production in the country.
“Through this project, the challenge of accessing quality seeds for farmers, seed growers, and input dealers would be highly minimised, if not totally eradicated,” the minister said.
He explained that the project will establish a 73-hectare rice seed cultivation complex, complete with modern irrigation infrastructure, reliable water supply and drainage systems, and state-of-the-art agricultural machinery and equipment. He added that the Korean rice varieties to be introduced are high-yielding, aromatic, and already well-received by Gambian farmers.
The minister further recalled that the Agriculture Ministry had recently launched three other projects—the REWARD, P2P2RS, and Gabisan initiatives—funded by the African Development Bank. “Today, we witnessed the launch of the fourth project, the K-Rice, the Gambia project, which is funded by the good people and government of Korea,” he said.
Also speaking at the ceremony were the Honorary Consul of Korea in The Gambia, Muhamed Jah, and the Director of the National Seed Secretariat, Morro Manga.
The launch was attended by Korean diplomats from the Embassy in Dakar, who represent the main sponsors of the project.
