Njoben Community Vegetable Garden, CRR South, ©FAO/Perpetua Katepa Kalala

Ministry of Agriculture, FAO and partners validate a five-year National Horticulture strategy

19 February 2020, Banjul – Stakeholders in the agriculture sector validated the National Horticulture Strategy (2020 – 2025) in Kololi on 19 February 2020.

The Ministry of Agriculture and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) jointly organized the event. The strategy seeks to support the realization of the Gambia’s National Development Plan (2018 – 2021) objectives of modernizing agriculture, particularly regarding the promotion of value chain development in horticulture in a coordinated and sustained manner.  

In June 2019, the Ministry of Agriculture requested for technical support from FAO to develop the strategy to help close critical gaps in the horticulture sub-sector. Historically, horticulture has always been an important direct source of rural income, employment and food. The sub- sector contributes about 4.2% to overall GDP, representing 24% of agriculture GDP, and employs over 65% of the agricultural labour force.

Anestimated 23% of the Gambia’s total arable land (117,329 hectares) is suitable for horticulture but less than 3% (3,519.9 hectares) is currently cultivated. Although, there is no authoritative data, it is clear that imports of vegetables and fruits to The Gambia are greater than what is exported, resulting in a significant trade deficit. Several factors are responsible for this low production and productivity including lack of knowledge among growers, traders and distributors, limited response to consumer preferences, weak research, innovation and extension systems, limited access to high-end market (linkages), and limited access to finance and inadequate support from the government.

Ensuring the full and sustainable exploitation of the great potential of the sector will enable The Gambian population to be well nourished and healthy for national economic growth and prosperity, leaving no one behind. The formulation and validation of the Horticulture Strategy has been participatory involving key public and private sector actors at national, regional and community levels. It is expected that with the strategy in place, the horticulture sector will be strengthened and thus contribute effectively to improved food and nutrition security, import substitution, exports and foreign exchange generation.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, Momodou Mbye Jabang, Permanent secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, commended FAO for supporting the development of the strategy. He explained that the strategy builds on the National Horticulture Masterplan (2015–2035) that FAO’s Technical Cooperation Project helped to develop. . It sets out a vision to transform the horticulture sub-sector to become sustainable, modernized, diversified and export-oriented.  “This five-year National Horticulture Strategy will greatly help us in the implementation of the National Horticulture Masterplan. I am therefore appealing to all of you once again to contribute proactively so that the strategy brings forward the expected results   in regards with transforming  the horticulture sub-sector”, Momodou Mbye stated.

During her speech, Moshibudi Rampedi, FAO Country Representative in The Gambia restated FAO’s commitment to support the Gambia to address the barriers that are hindering farmers and food enterprises to access the market through responsible private sector investment, robust policies and regulations. She underscored the significance of the forum noting that the validation of the Horticulture Strategywill enable the Government to catalyze sector development leading to higher incomes and job creation. She said, “I hope that the presence of the private sector, researchers, academia, and extension service workers at this validation session will once more provide an opportunity to address   the potential of horticulture innovation, which is a key catalyst for agricultural transformation”.

Ms Rampedi underscored the need to increase the availability of high quality and safe horticultural produce by developing improved crop management practices (e.g. good agricultural practices, integrated production and pest management and integrated soil health management) for sustainable and environmentally friendly horticultural crop production systems. She however acknowledged the challenges to produce more fruit, and vegetables sustainably noting that horticultural production systems must cope with uncertainties resulting from climate change, while taking into consideration social, political, economic and environmental impacts.

Chairing the opening ceremony, Saikou E. Sanyang, Director General, Department of Agriculture described the development of the strategy as a step in the right direction as it will facilitate the implementation of the National Development Plan. He emphasised the need for more private sector participation to accelerate the implementation of the National Horticulture Masterplan (2015 – 2035) for the achievement of set targets.