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The Gambian Ministry of Agriculture, the World Bank and CORAF officially launched the 2022 national certified seed distribution campaign in Abuko, just outside Banjul, at the beginning of June. The ceremony was attended by a number of other stakeholders, including farmers' organizations, seed quality control officers, and others.

The initiative is part of the operations of the Gambia Inclusive and Resilient Agricultural Value Chain Development (GIRAV) project.

"A total of 12,500 smallholders, including 10,000 rice growers and 2,500 maize growers, are targeted for this seed distribution program, and we expect 50% of them to be women," said Ms Feyi BOROFFICE, World Bank Resident Representative in The Gambia.

The World Bank is funding the GIRAV project, which targets small-scale farmers and agri-businesses operating in four identified priority value chains: rice, horticulture, cashew nuts and poultry breeding - in connection with maize for food.

"The staple food in Gambia is rice, which is consumed in almost every household. And less than 40% of the quantity consumed is produced locally. As a result, millions of US dollars are spent annually on imported foodstuffs", said the Honorable Dr Demba SABALLY, Gambia's Minister of Agriculture, at the official launch of the distribution.

"To curb this negative and unsustainable trend, the Gambia's Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the World Bank, CORAF and AfricaRice, has introduced climate-smart and salt-tolerant rice varieties into farming systems for the 2022 seasons," the official added.

In addition to rice seed, beneficiaries will also receive certified corn seed for poultry feed.

Mr. Abdoulie TOURAY, Coordinator of the GIRAV Project in The Gambia, believes that the supply of these high-quality certified rice and maize seeds will not only help farmers gain access to improved planting material, but will also improve production and productivity, thus contributing to food self-sufficiency and, in turn, reducing the country's rice and maize imports.

A total of two hundred (200) metric tons of rice seed and fifty (50) metric tons of corn seed will be distributed to farmers throughout the country.

As a regional organization, CORAF is responsible for technology transfer throughout the sub-region, as part of the GIRAV project.  

"The improved, climate-adapted seed varieties made available to Gambian farmers will strengthen their resilience in the face of climate change and other challenges, and help Gambian agriculture move from subsistence farming to market-oriented agriculture," said Professor Niéyidouba LAMIEN, Senior Project Coordinator at CORAF.

About GIRAV

The GIRAV project aims to promote the development of inclusive, resilient and competitive agricultural value chains, with a particular focus on small-scale farmers and agri-businesses in The Gambia.

The project is financed by the World Bank to the tune of USD 40 million.

It is expected to directly benefit around 50,000 farmers - of whom at least 50% are women and 30% are young people - and at least ten (10) small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

It has a term of five (05) years and is due to expire in December 2026.

Read more :

• Leveraging digital technology for fluid seed tracking and distribution
• GIRAV project boosts Gambian farmers' optimism
• Delivery of seeds to The Gambia under the GIRAV project: Harmonized regional seed regulations under way