By Staff Reporter
The National Agricultural Research Institute in partnership with the University of South Carolina yesterday finally presented the country’s Pilot Project Needs Assessment Report after months of field research and consultations.
The project was funded by the Centre of Excellence for Global Food Security and Defense (CEGFSD) established by the United States Department of Agriculture. The Centre is founded to find solutions to complex domestic and global challenges to agriculture innovation and advancement.
The director of National Agricultural Research Institute, Dr. Lamin Dibba gave an introductory overview of the research project and how it will transform the country’s agriculture sector, while highlighting major challenges confronting the country’s agriculture sector.
Challenges such as female access and ownership of farmlands, inadequate agriculture credit financing among others are the main constraints highlighted in the report.
Dr Lamin Drammeh, Principal Investigator of the project from the University of South Carolina presented the research project to his Gambian partners.
He said there is a need for the government to harness the opportunities which include the willingness of the youth in embracing the sector and availability of land for agricultural productivity.
The findings of the assessment according to the officials will also be disseminated to the USDA, government of The Gambia, and NGOS for policy considerations, future partners and collaborators.