AGRIBUSINESS TECHNICAL SERVICES UNIT

AGRICUTURE COOPERATIVES WORKSHOP OF OIC MEMBER COUNTRIES AND STUDY VISITS IN TURKEY

COUNTRY PRESENTATION – THE GAMBIA

BY: ABA GIBRIL SANKAREHDEPUTY DIRECTOR/REGISTRAR OF COOPERATIVES

CONTENTS

General status of Agriculture SectorGeneral profile of agriculture producersMajor Agri-Food Products ProducedMajor Agri-Food Traded (imported and exported)Status of Agriculture Cooperatives

LOCATIONThe Gambia is a country located in West Africa

bordered by Senegal in the North, South & EastThe capital city is BanjulIt has an area of 11,300 Sq KmIts shape is narrow extending from 15-30 km on

each side of the banks and 400 km along the River Gambia

The river derives from Futa Djallon highlands in Guinea

4

LOCATION (CONT.)

Figure 1. The map of the Gambia (source: http://www.infoplease/com/ipa/a0107560).

POPULATIONThe population of The Gambia is estimated at

1.857181 million according the 2013 population census

The annual population growth rate is estimated at 3.1% per annum

(Source: GBOS)

LANGUAGESEnglish is the official language of the country in

which all Government matters are transacted. A number of local languages are spoken, these include:• Mandinka (42%) • Wollof (16%)• Fula (18%)• Jola (10%)• Serahule (9%) & Others (5%)

AGRICULTURE SECTOR• PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Vegetation is Guinea Savanna Woodland in coastal

area changing into open Sudan Savanna in the eastTopography is largely unvaried consisting of

riverine flats and mangrove swamps and savanna woodland with shrub and grass

Climate is Sudano- Sahelian characterized by short dry season from June to October and a long dry spell from October to May

AGRICULTRE SECTOR CONT.

Mean annual rainfall varies from 900mm in south-west to about 500mm in the north-east with average of 750mm for the country as a whole

The country is divided into six agricultural regions:West Coast Region (WCR), NBR, LRR, Central River North (CRR-N, Central River South (CRR-S) and Upper River Region (URR)

SECTOR STRUCTURECharacterized by small-scale, subsistence rain fed

crop production (mainly g/nuts, coarse grains, rice, cassava, Cashew nuts)

Traditional livestock rearing

Semi-commercial groundnut & horticultural production

Small cotton & large artisanal fisheries sub-sector

SECTOR STRUCTURE CONT.

Agricultural output generated by around 69,100 farm households (500,000 people engaged in farming

Cultivating 320,000ha annually or about 57% of total arable land estimated at 558,000ha

3,300ha of land is under irrigationMen engaged in upland mechanized croppingWomen in rice cultivation and horticulture

PROFILE OF PRODUCERS

Groundnut – male dominated (5 -20 ha)Coarse grains (mz,l&e/m,sorgh.) male (5-20ha)Rice Swamp – female (5-20ha)Rice upland – both male &female (5-20ha)Vegetable – female ( less than 5ha)Fruits – male (above 20ha)Sesame – female (less than 5ha)Livestock – both male & female (5- 300)

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCEAccounts for about 30% of GDPProvides employment to 75% of the country’s

population (500,000 households)Meet about 50% of the national food requirementsIts share of the country’s total export is 70%Sole means of income generation for majority of

rural households91% of the extremely poor & 72% of the poor work

in agriculture

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE CONT.

Agriculture employs 78% of the women labour force, majority of whom live below poverty line

Therefore, it is regarded as the prime sector for investments to raise income, improve food security and reduce poverty

MAJOR AGRI-FOOD PRODUCTS PRODUCED

As stated above, the major crops in The Gambia include groundnut, rice and coarse grains (including sorghum, millet and maize)

Coarse grains are the main food crops throughout the country together with groundnuts ( and to a lesser extent cotton) which are the major cash crops

Sesame, cowpea, cassava and cashewHorticultural – vegetables and fruitsLivestock and livestock productsFish and forest products

MAJOR AGRI-FOOD PRODUCTS TRADED (IMPORTED&EXPORTED)

Groundnuts (China)Rice ( Import,Thailand, Viet Nam, India)Coarse grains (Cross border trade)Flour ( Import, Turkey)Cashew nuts ( Export, ECOWAS,India)Vegetables & fruits (ECOWAS)Sesame (Export to ECOWAS) Meat & dairy products (Senegal)Fish & forest products ( Asia,China)

MAJOR AGRI-FOOD PRODUCTS TRADED (IMPORTED&EXPORTED

• Main domestic exports ( Senegal, Mali & Guinea)• Basically as re-exports Edible fruitsGroundnut productsFish & fishery products export to AmericasForest products (wood)- Exports to Americas (US,

Peru)Forest products (wood)-Exports to Americas (US,

Peru)

STATUS OF AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES

The Agribusiness Services Unit is responsible for the regulation of cooperative development in The Gambia through the implementation of the Cooperative societies Act.

It does so by providing regular supervision of societies through audit and inspection, registration of societies and also provide guidance and advice to societies.

Marketing of agric. Goods through market linkagesFacilitate access & distribution of agric. inputs

STATUS OF AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES

• HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE:Cooperatives introduced in The Gambia in the early

1950sThree types: Agricultural (Largest) Credit Unions Workers cooperatives (self-employed)Until 1990 provide vital services such as marketing

of produce, provision of agricultural inputs and credit for personal & commercial purposes

STATUS OF AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES CONT.

The Cooperative Produce Marketing Societies (CPMS) are typical examples of state organized and controlled cooperatives.

Liquidation of GCU necessitated reorganization of the primary societies into larger ones to enable them become more economically viable.

In this way, societies were reduced from 82 to 58, and these are the ones used for marketing of groundnuts & other commodities up to date in collaboration with GGC.

STATUS OF AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES CONT.

With the market liberalization in late 1980s, the movement suffered a major setback

Liquidation of the apex body GCU in 1998 resulted in almost grounding of the agricultural cooperatives

Government of the Gambia has indicated strong commitment to national development to attain food security

Commitment articulated in country’s national policy document principally GNAIP, Vision 2020 & 2016 pronounced by His Excellency the President

STATUS OF AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES CONT.

Recognizing past achievements of the cooperatives, revitalization as a means to attaining the objectives of Vision 2020,2016 & GNAIP has become a major agenda from the Executive.

The National Assembly summoned a meeting between the Ministry of Agriculture & Assembly’s select Committee on Agriculture at the Assembly building to look into the possibility of reviving the cooperatives

STATUS OF AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES CONT.

From January to date, 44 cooperatives have been registered through the Office of the Registrar.

Agricultural Projects ( LHDP, MDG 1c, Nema) and Concern Universal, an NGO are registering their groups into cooperatives to realize economic benefits

Also to easily access the inputs required to grow crops and keep livestock & help them process, transport and market their produce.

CONCLUSION In conclusion, agricultural cooperatives contribute

to food security by helping small farmers to access the information, tools and services they needed.

This allows them to increase food production, market their goods and create jobs, improve their own livelihoods and increasing food security in the World

THANK YOUABARAKAJEREJEFF

NJARAMANOOWAARI