Fafanding S. Fatajo Fafanding S. Fatajo (Director, Department of Planning)(Director, Department of Planning)

For the Gambian TeamFor the Gambian Team

Outline of the presentationOutline of the presentation

Map of The GambiaMap of The Gambia Introduction to the country profileIntroduction to the country profile

Food insecurity in The GambiaFood insecurity in The Gambia

Introduction of national workshop (NW)Introduction of national workshop (NW)

Recommendations of from NW to GOTG and FAO Recommendations of from NW to GOTG and FAO

Constraints IdentifiedConstraints Identified

Group discussionsGroup discussions

Conclusion from the NWConclusion from the NW

Map of The GambiaMap of The Gambia

Introduction to the country profileIntroduction to the country profile

It has a total land area of about 10,689 sqkm extending approximately 400 kilometers eastwards with widths varying from about 80 km at the Atlantic Coast to about 24 to 28 kilometers in the east

The Gambia’s population was estimated at 1.4 million in 2004 and growing at an annual rate of 2.77%

It is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa with a population density of 128 persons/sqkm

In 1963, about 91% of the rural population depended on agriculture, but has continuously been decreasing, averaging around 70% presently

Introduction to the country profile Cont.Introduction to the country profile Cont.This indicates that the active farming population as a proportion of the national population has been shrinking

From the 2003 National Census, it is evident that more females have been involved in agricultural activities (nearly 80%) than males (around 60%)

About 60% of the population is under 25 years of age.

EconomyThe economy has been growing between 6 to 7% per annum for the first ten years after independence and at a rate of 4% per annum between 1985/86 to-date

The main features of The Gambian economy are its small size, narrow base and the influence of the re-export trade destined for the neighboring countries

With very limited range of exploitable mineral resources, the economy is primarily dominated by services (particularly in tourism) and agriculture,

Introduction to the country profile Cont.Introduction to the country profile Cont.

EconomyEconomy Agriculture, accounts for 29% of the GDPAgriculture, accounts for 29% of the GDP

Tourism accounts for 59% of the GDPTourism accounts for 59% of the GDP

Manufacturing (assembly), industry and construction account Manufacturing (assembly), industry and construction account for 12 percent of GDPfor 12 percent of GDP

Approximately 70% of the population depends on agriculture Approximately 70% of the population depends on agriculture for their livelihoodfor their livelihood

Introduction to the country profile Cont.Introduction to the country profile Cont.

Food Insecurity in The Gambia Food Insecurity in The Gambia

The Gambia, as is the case with the other countries in the continent particularly CILSS member countries, is faced with two forms of food insecurity:

•A structural form- mainly related to resource availability, farms’ technical level, and poverty among others,

•A Temporary form or current vulnerability- results from annual climate variations, the impact of some natural disasters (diseases, pest attacks, etc.)

Rice is the main staple food of The Gambian population with its consumption far exceeding production

Per capita consumption of cereals in the country is about 175kg, and that of rice alone is about 117kg

Food Insecurity in The Gambia Cont.Food Insecurity in The Gambia Cont. The Gambia is classified as a least Developed, Low Income Food Deficit Country and is currently ranked 155 out of 177 countries according to UNDP’s HDI 2008

Domestic food production caters little more than 50% of the consumption requirements

A large % of the population lives below the poverty line and suffer from food insecurity

According to the Household Poverty Survey Report of June 2006; about 57.9% of the population lived in poverty with 39% in extreme poverty

About 46% of rural households fall below the food poverty line, compared with 15% in urban areas and 4% in the Greater Banjul Area

Food Insecurity in The Gambia Cont.Food Insecurity in The Gambia Cont.

 About 91% of the extremely poor and 72% of the poor are dependent on agriculture for their survival

Unfortunately, farmers tend to sell the bulk of their produces immediately after harvesting, usually at give away prices

During the ‘hungry season’, they buy back at exorbitant prices the very produces they sold cheaply to the local merchants

For the purchase of food items during this period, farmers may lend money from local moneylenders against their next crop income

This practice is not sustainable and takes cruel advantage of the poor rural farmers

Food Insecurity in The Gambia Cont.Food Insecurity in The Gambia Cont.

The GOTG in line with the MDGs and Vision 2020, is to transform the agricultural sector not only to establish peri-urban and urban enterprises but also to transform the subsistence farming system to a surplus producing system that will free the small farmers from traditional institutional constraints and practices hence achieve the MDGs goal of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger and ensuring environmental sustainability

Food Insecurity in The Gambia Cont.Food Insecurity in The Gambia Cont.

To attain to this goal agriculture offers a great potential as The Gambia is endowed with a huge expanse of arable land that is being used for the cultivation of a wide variety of crops

However, over-cultivation, availability sufficient of improved varieties, and other forms of human interference (inappropriate cultural practices) have resulted in soil degradation and plant nutrients depletion hence low crop yields that provide both food and cash resulting in food shortages

Introduction to the Conduct of the National WorkshopIntroduction to the Conduct of the National Workshop

One of the recommendations of Ouagadougou workshop held from 20th to 24th October 2008 was to conduct national workshops in each of the participating countries to share the workshop report and recommendations with the major stakeholders as related to the main themes (Rice, Aquaculture, Marketing and Trade).

This national document on Rice and Aquaculture for Increased Productivity and Market Development in The Gambia was a result of a-three day National Workshop attended by about 50 participants from the 11th to 13th of March 2009 at Sea View Hotel, Banjul The Gambia

Introduction to the Conduct of the National Workshop Cont.

Opening CeremonyThe Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), Mr. Sidi Jarju also deputizing for the Honourable Minister who is the President of the Republic of The Gambia in his opening remarks underscored the importance of Aquaculture. He intimated that only 2% of the Gambia’s underground water resources are being utilized and that rice production is heavily dependent on the unreliable weather in the light of increasing need for the redoubling of production to meet local consumption requirements. He therefore argued that aquaculture, although is in its infancy presents an opportunity for sustainable food production. Furthermore, he reiterated that The Gambia is also blessed with the River Gambia, which divides the country into two is a great potential for increased rice production and self reliance in food security if properly harnessed

Introduction to the Conduct of the National Workshop Cont.Introduction to the Conduct of the National Workshop Cont.

Deputizing for the FAOR, Mrs. Mariatou Faal Njie, maintained that the main objective of the workshop was to engage the main stakeholders in the sharing of outcomes of the Burkina regional workshop

Mr. Amadou Saine, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Fisheries and National Assemble Matters, Deputizing for the Minister; referred to the workshop as pertinent since the use of destructive fishing methods are already a threatening problem in the country. He also opined that the development of aquaculture in the country will reduce the pressure on natural fish stock

Opening Ceremony Cont.

Presentations on the Thematic AreasPresentations on the Thematic Areas

Day one of the National Workshop after the opening ceremony was devoted to presentations on the following thematic areas:

Overview of the workshop on Rice and Aquaculture held in Ouagadougou, by Mr. Falalo Touray

Mr.Touray pointed out that recommendations made in Burkina Faso regional workshop and reiterated at national workshop would require support from both The Government of The Gambia and FAO for successful implementation

Presentations on the Thematic Areas Cont.Presentations on the Thematic Areas Cont.

Market access and trade policy in The Gambia (Kawsu Darri, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Employment)

In his deliberations, he explained the direction of fisheries exports, trade preferences for Gambian exports and the trend of exports of fish and fisheries products

Mr. Darri indicated that Gambian fish exports in 1998 were skewed towards the EU and ECOWAS than any other country (51% and 41% respectively). However, in 2007, it became even more skewed towards the EU than it was for ECOWAS (68% and 24% respectively). The trade with other countries was reported to be minimal

Presentations on the Thematic Areas Cont.Presentations on the Thematic Areas Cont.

In terms of opportunities, Mr, Darri enumerated the following:

That Gambia’s fisheries products receive preferential treatment under the GSP granted by EU to the LDCs;

That EBA another type of GSP is also given to LDCs which provides complete duty and quota free access to the EU, except for rice, sugar and banana

That Gambia also enjoys similar quota free arrangements under ECOWAS.

He also pointed out the following as constraints:

None availability of data on the volume of re- export trade on rice;

Sanitary and phyto – sanitary measures (difficulty in meeting EU standard);

The Gambia has one of the highest energy cost in the sub– region whereas the commercial rate for electricity in the country is between $0.33 – $0.38, it is $0.16 – $0.18 in Senegal and $0.11 – $0.13 in Cote D‘Ivoire). Insufficient infrastructure

Presentations on the Thematic Areas Cont.

Over view of Aquaculture in The Gambia (Famara Darboe, Department of Fisheries)

Drawing from Mr. Darboe’s presentation on The Gambia, the following statistics were given:

Industrial Production – 2830 Mt

Artisanal Production – 36898 Mt

Per capita Fish Consumption, Coastal Area – 29kg/p/year

Per capita Fish Consumption, Rural Area - less than 9kg/p/year

According to Mr. Darboe, The Gambia has enormous potential for the development of aquaculture

He outlined the numerous fish species and the available shallow sheltered areas for oyster culture in the country

Furthermore, he pointed out that the justifications for an investment in aquaculture includes:

The need to reduce pressure on capture fisheries

Need to avert eminent fish stock depletion

Mr. Darboe also reported that aquaculture in the Gambia has about seven intervention sites and they include:

Taiwan Gambia Collaboration

West Africa Aquaculture Ltd

FAO Funded TCP and NAS

Over view of Aquaculture in The Gambia (Famara Darboe, Department of Fisheries) Cont.

Farmer Managed Rice – Fish – Culture

Ndenban Japichum Fish Pond

Madina Kanuma Community Fish Pond Sallikenni Community Fish Pond

Furthermore, the most important problem he cited is the serious limited required human resource in the area of aquaculture

Need to increase land water resource utilization

Over view of Aquaculture in The Gambia (Famara Darboe, Department of Fisheries) Cont.

During the discussions on the presentation, it has been concluded that the difficult nature of the transportation of fish in refrigerated vehicles into the provinces can be sustainably complimented with advances in aquaculture.

Concerning how aquaculture compares to capture fisheries in terms of viability, it was observed that aquaculture is cheaper because it does not use fuel neither does it deplete natural fish stocks

It was also considered less risky and less intensive

Over view of Aquaculture in The Gambia (Famara Darboe, Department of Fisheries) Cont.

Emerging technologies for increased rice production with reference to varieties, Duration, Ecology, Yields, cultural practices and production methods, (Mr. Essa Drammeh, NARI)

Mr. Drammeh defined four production ecologies such as rain fed upland; rain fed lowland, irrigated lowland and tidal swamps

He explained recommended rice varieties suitable for the various ecologies in terms of their names, yields per hectare and duration to maturity

Production constraints such as biophysical, technical, socioeconomics institutional/ policy, technology transfer and linkages

Vast array of available arable land and fresh water for irrigation as undeniable potentials for food security

The workshop participants in their reactions indicated that agricultural research in The Gambia need to be more focus and responsive

Research- extension linkages needs to be strengthened

The participants also referred to most of the varieties presented to have been around for a very long time and may have therefore lost their genetic purity and potential

Emerging technologies for increased rice production with reference to varieties, Duration, Ecology, Yields, cultural practices and production methods, (Mr. Essa Drammeh, NARI) Cont.

Trends in Rice Production in The Gambia. (Area, yield, production by ecologies and Potentials Over Five Years (Mr. Fatajo, Department of Planning)

Mr. Fatajo, put the per capita consumption of cereals in The Gambia at 175kg

Rice alone which is the staple is about 117kg

In The Gambia, farmers sell the bulk of their produces at give away prices immediately after harvest

Farmers buy back through lending against their next crop income

There is huge expanse of arable land in country, however, over cultivation, lack of improved varieties and so on have resulted in soil degradation and plant nutrient depletion hence low crop yield

Inappropriate financial (both micro and macro) markets

Swamp rice covered 10,000ha, upland rice 24,000 ha and irrigated rice 2, 500

Increase in paddy production during the period 92/93 to 2008/09

Yield in rainfed rice production fluctuation from 0.9-2.5mt/ha for both upland and low land ecologies; and from 4.5 to 6mt/ha under irrigation

Production levels will have to be ≥ to 246,154 mt = 160,000 mt cleaned rice if self reliance in rice production is to be met

Trends in Rice Production in The Gambia. (Area, yield, production by ecologies and Potentials Over Five Years (Mr. Fatajo, Department of Planning) Cont.

Trends in Rice Production in The Gambia. (Area, yield, production by ecologies and Potentials Over Five Years (Mr. Fatajo, Department of Planning) Cont.

Challenges and Constraints:

Land tenure systemHigh cost of inputs Inappropriate farming and cultural practicesLimited productive and processing infrastructure Inappropriate financial systemErratic rainfallLow crop productivityDegradation of natural resource baseUnavailability of short duration cultivarLow input useTimely availability of inputs

Food Security Trends in The Gambia, Constraints, Opportunities and the Way Forward, (Mr. Sidi Jarju Deputy Minister, Ministry of agriculture)

The presenter listed the following as the objectives for the Special Programme for Food Security in The Gambia:

Low cost technologies for efficiency and sustainability

Increased efficiency in the production of rice, horticultural crops, rabbit and small ruminants raising through transfer of technology and wide spread adoption of improved cultural and husbandry practices

Development of viable irrigation and water management systems

Income generation for rural households through promotion of diversified agricultural production

Constraints:

Natural constraints, over dependence on rainfed agriculture

Unreliable sourcing of small ruminant breeding and fattening stock, high cost of poultry feed

Food Security Trends in The Gambia, Constraints, Opportunities and the Way Forward, (Mr. Sidi Jarju Deputy Minister, Ministry of agriculture) Cont.

Recommendation to Government

Address critically land tenure system in the country

create the enabling environment for rice production, aquaculture, market development and Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS)

Instituting strong and workable research-extension and farmer-linkage mechanisms

Provide the necessary infrastructure and equipment support for the development of rice, aquaculture, market development and the management of Agricultural Information System

Mobilization of fund for rice production, aquaculture and market development

Recommendation to FAO

Support rice production, aquaculture, and market initiatives in the country

Provide technical Assistance in the following areas: Rice Production AquacultureMarket development

Funding to improve small scale farmer initiatives in the above 3

Support capacity building initiatives

Recommendation to Donors

Increase funding for the development of:

Research activities in rice, aquaculture and market development

Extension activities in rice, aquaculture and market develop.

Research-Extension linkages

Agricultural data and Market Information System (AMIS)

Data collection in the sub-sectors

Provide funding for capacity building for stakeholder institutions

Habes

We Thank you very much We Thank you very much

for your for your

undivided Attentionundivided Attention