By: Mariama Njie
Government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Agriculture with funding from International Fund for Agricultural Development launched the Resilience of Organizations For Transformative smallholder agriculture programs (ROOTS.
The launching of the project which brought together government officials, members of International Fund for Agriculture Development and institutions was held on Tuesday at Sir. Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre.
‘ROOTS’ is a six-year funded project with co-financing from Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) GEF aims to improve food security, nutrition and smallholder farmers’ resilience to climate change in The Gambia.
The Project Development Objective is to increase agricultural productivity and access to markets for enhanced food security and nutrition, and resilience of family farms and farmer organizations.
Speaking at the ceremony, IFAD’s country Director, Haoa Sienta said the Resilience of Organizations for Transformative Smallholder Agriculture Project (ROOTS) is an inspirational farm from the Gambia culture courage, bravery and resilience.
“The name of the project ‘ROOTS’ is also acknowledging the Gambian legend Kunta Kinteh, who was a slave and has broken the chains of domination,” she added.
With believe, she said the name will inspire all those who are involved in the implementation process of the project, because they cannot afford failing to deliver and relief people from poverty.
She pointed out that the project will focus on up scaling NEMA achievements in the rice and vegetable value chains and will give special attention to key issues such as the targeting strategy to reach poor farmer.
According to her, 48.65% of poor rural Gambians depend on agriculture for their livelihood and income.
Honorable Amie Fabureh, Minister of Agriculture expressed delight on the national launching of the Resilience of Organizations for Transformative Smallholder Agriculture Project, popularly referred to as ROOTS.
She said the total cost of the Project is US$80 million and will be implemented over a period of six years, effective 1st January 2021.
She said it is expected that 80 per cent of direct beneficiaries will be women farmers and 25 per cent will be youth farmers and “as part of its inclusive approach, the Project will also engage people with disabilities in the most appropriate segment of the selected value chains.”
She therefore tasked the Project Director and his team with the implementing partners, to work extremely hard to realize the objectives of the Project and on timely delivery.
Honorable Fabureh added that “Without any intention to scare you all, please note that expectations from the ROOTS Project are high. I trust in the capacity and professionalism of yourselves, and wish to assure you of my Ministry support.”
She commended women farmers for their unflinching efforts and commitment in ensuring food, nutrition and income security for the country in general.
The ROOTS Project is finally here to strengthen your resilience like no other project, she said.
Meanwhile, she acknowledged the critical role IFAD has played in the realisation of the ROOTS Project.
To achieve its objectives, she said the Project will support targeted investments in infrastructure, and the technical and organizational capacities of farmers’ organizations, particularly youth and women, and other stakeholders along the rice and horticulture value chains.
She pointed out that the six years ROOTS project will scale-up achievements registered by Nema-Chosso project, while building synergies with other partners work geared towards increasing climate change resilience and value-chain development.
The Project will directly benefit 40,000 households, involving about 320,000 people and primary target groups are smallholder farmers, predominantly women farmers, female and male youth farmers from 18 to 35 years old, she said
Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture, Ebrima Sisaho, said the ROOTS project is the biggest ever project in the country and therefore should be a game changer.
However, Minister of Environment, and minister of Finance also emphasis on the important of the project and vowed to give their full support.