Yahya K. Jallow, a young Gambian social entrepreneur and climate activist, empowers women and youth in agriculture with climate-smart techniques and business skills. With seven years of experience, he trains farmers in sustainable farming methods, reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers and promoting climate change mitigation.
Yahya K. Jallow, a young Gambian social entrepreneur and climate activist, empowers women and youth in agriculture through climate-smart techniques and business skills. With 7+ years of experience, he trains farmers with innovative solutions and recently completed a prestigious agriculture internship in Israel.
The Agri-Accelerator Project, launched in Banjul, Gambia, aims to empower young entrepreneurs in the agriculture sector by providing training and resources funded by the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture, with collaborative efforts from various organizations to enhance food security and sustainable development.
The Gambia continues to be a significant producer of oilseeds, with its historical production data indicating 96,152 tons of groundnuts produced in 1915. The country's oil mill, previously owned by GOMB/GPMB before bankruptcy and subsequent takeover in the second Republic, is currently under the Barrow administration. Despite the potential to produce various products including seed and oil, groundnut cake, briquettes, soap, and chicken feed, the innovative capacity is reportedly not being stimulated by government policies and practices.
Since 2017, the women of Bwiam, The Gambia, have abandoned their rice fields due to the presence of ECOMIG forces, despite the military insisting they pose no threat to the farmers. The lingering fear and discomfort stem from past threats and the ongoing presence of armed patrols near their homes. The military's presence in the region, a legacy of former President Yahya Jammeh's rule, continues to be a source of tension.
The Republic of Gambia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kingdom of Spain to recruit Gambians for work in Spain, with the Gambia government starting the distribution of application forms. The applicants must be Gambian nationals aged between 25 and 50, with a valid passport and experience in agriculture, particularly fruit picking and handling. The final selection will be determined through an interview process involving the Spanish Office of Labour, Migration and Social Security officials, the Spanish Embassy in The Gambia, and the Spanish employer.
The Gambia's Federation of Cooperatives has been disbursing funds for groundnut purchases through the AGIB bank account into the Qmoney account of the CPMS, with over 500 million dalasi already disbursed this season. However, some farmers have experienced challenges receiving their payments without deductions or delays. The system operators have conducted an assessment and disbursed more money to improve the process.
Relevant: In the Lower and Upper Niumi Districts in the North Bank Region of The Gambia, seccos (agricultural cooperatives) reportedly owe farmers over fourteen million Dalasi (D14,000,000). Despite having debts, these seccos continue to take farmers' groundnuts on credit, with the Gambia Groundnut Corporation (GGC) promising to supply funds as soon as final reconciliation is completed.