Minister for Agriculture Urges More Youth Involvement in Agriculture

By Haddy Jarju

Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Demba Sabally, advocates for increased youth involvement in agriculture during his recent visit to the Tambadou Orange Farm in the west coast region. He highlights the crucial role agriculture plays in The Gambia’s economy and underscores the untapped potential and opportunities it holds for socio-economic development.

The agricultural sector is a cornerstone of The Gambia’s economy, contributing 32% to the GDP, providing employment for 80% of the population, and constituting 70% of the country’s foreign exchange earnings.

Kissima Tambadou, the founder of the farm, with over 100 hectares of land and thousands of trees in Toubakuta, stressed the need for self-belief and the importance of seizing business opportunities. “I have over one hundred hectares and thirty thousand trees in this farm here in Toubakuta, and I have other five farms in other places all because I believe in myself and I don’t look down on any business,” he said.

During the visit, Dr. Demba Sabally commended Tambadou for his initiative, acknowledging not only his focus on fruit farming but also his venture into onion cultivation. “People like Kissima and co give us hope not to worry about importing onions from other countries to The Gambia. Instead, it will strengthen our foreign exchange, which is very vital to the economy of the country, and that way we can eradicate poverty in our beloved nation,” he stated.

Highlighting the onion production gap, Dr. Sabally emphasised the importance of supporting local farmers like Tambadou to enhance domestic production. He urged affluent individuals to consider investing in agricultural land, emphasising the transformative impact such investments can have on the agriculture sector.

Tambadou’s farm, now including onion cultivation, serves as a reminder of the untapped potential in agriculture and the opportunities it holds for socio-economic development in The Gambia.