News

The village of Boiram is now a model for most rice-growing communities in The Gambia, thanks in the first place to the support provided by PPAAO, in collaboration with the Institut National de Recherche Agricole and the Ministry of Agriculture. Thanks to the use of high-yielding rice varieties introduced by the PPAAO innovation platform, Mrs Jane Diagne has become a successful farmer admired by many.

The introduction of the Sahel 134 variety, the adoption of 21 good agricultural practices and the timely provision of agricultural inputs by the PPAAO Gambia led to an increase in rice yields of around 500%. This has motivated village women and young people to invest fully in rainfed rice production.

Currently, yields have risen from around 1.2 tonnes to 4.5 tonnes per hectare. This has considerably improved Mrs Diagne's economic situation. She says she can now afford to pay for her two daughters' education and look after her house. Before the PPAAO was implemented in her village, she used to sell small ruminants to meet her family's needs.

Mrs Diagne and other rice growers in Boiram have diversified into rice seed production.

With the new skills she has acquired in agriculture, Mrs Diagne is able to equip and improve her farm and help other producers. She has provided seeds to around 20 small-scale rice farmers in her community, and serves as a role model and champion for rice production in the Fouladou district. What's more, she can now actively participate in decision-making in her community and interact, with confidence, with local authorities.

She has considerably improved her knowledge and understanding of gender and climate change issues. She is now able to train and educate other women on health and nutrition issues.

Ms. Jane has also invented 4 rice-based recipes (rice cookies, cakes, chakeri and other products) that are well appreciated by consumers.