Walking into the pitch room at the Holistic Agribusiness Centre in Ballingho, North Bank Region, managed by the Rural Development Organization (RDO) you could feel the tension in the air. Heartbeats raced, hands were jittery, and half-smiles appeared on some faces. For many of these ten young people, it was their first time standing before judges to present their agribusiness ideas for investment.

These pitches, in poultry, horticulture, livestock, and agro-trading ventures, are the final stage of the Agri-Accelerator project. The Agri-Accelerator is an initiative to develop the capacities of young agri-entrepreneurs and business coaches to incorporate responsible investment principles (RAI) on their projects. The aim is to foster agribusinesses that are profitable but also socially and environmentally friendly, making a contribution to sustainable development and food security in rural Gambia.

The strong performance of the young agri-entrepreneurs was built on a solid foundation, as all ten had completed a two-year hands-on training at the Holistic Agribusiness Centre, covering sustainable farming, bookkeeping, and business planning. With additional support from the Sabab Lou Foundation, the Agri-Accelerator helped transform these young agronomists into confident agri-entrepreneurs ready to scale their impact.

Launched in January 2025 in Banjul, the Agri-accelerator project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity. It is implemented by FAO in partnership with Gambia Tech, Alliance Française de Banjul, RDO, Sabab Lou Foundation, and the Gambian Ministry of Agriculture.

Behind the short presentations were two months of intensive coaching by RAI trained coaches, and shifts in mindset. The youth already ran micro or small-scale poultry, vegetable, or livestock businesses. They joined the programme with enthusiasm but had still a lot to improve regarding the management of their agribusinesess, in particular with record keeping to track production costs or sales revenue.

The Agri-Accelerator project supported them strengthen their skills. Through coaching sessions led by local coaches previously trained as part of the project, the youth learned about the RAI accelerator toolkit, a series of tools for designing and managing responsible, inclusive, and climate-smart agribusiness ventures. They gained skills in keeping production records, analyzing costs and returns, setting prices based on market information, and aligning their ventures with community needs like nutrition and job creation.

“The coaching process has helped me build confidence towards my business and develop my entrepreneurship skills, for instance my record keeping ability,” said Mamodou Jallow, a vegetable grower from Jarra Soma.  

The pitching event was the final exercise. One by one, the ten finalists stood before a panel of judges to present their polished responsible business models and financial proposals. Most were nervous, but they shared bold ideas, like plans to expand their poultry houses, increase horticulture production, purchase better livestock breeds, and develop small-scale agro-processing. Their pitches showed ambition and connected with broader food system goals, including boosting local food availability, improving nutrition, embracing environmentally friendly practices and reducing youth underemployment. They explained how their projects would address community challenges such as protein shortages, post-harvest losses, and weak market access.

“My participation in the Agri-accelerator project has provided me with the opportunity to learn from others. Listening to other people ideas has enriched my own vision,” said Touray Cham, who manages a backyard poultry business in Madinari.

At the end of the pitching, a ceremony to hand over certificates to all coaches and entrepreneurs was organized.

The judges evaluated each pitch based on the leadership and motivation, personal commitment and communication skills shown by each entrepreneur, as well as the feasibility, clarity, and relevance of their projects.

After an additional assessment based on the alignment of the projects with the CFS-RAI Principles, five participants will be chosen to receive material support, which may include primarily equipment, but also strategic material and inputs that can provide sustainability in the long term.

Adama Bojang, a poultry farmer and mother of two, spoke calmly, despite her nerves. “My project contributes to better nutrition through addressing the protein deficiency that is prevalent in many rural Gambian communities” she says. “Also, I plan to start using paper bags to deliver the dried carcasess, and educate people about the problems that the use of plastics generate in our environment.”

For many, having the chance to pitch their business plans using ideas from the RAI coaching is very meaningful. “I never thought I could do something like this,” said Demba Bah, a poultry farmer from Chabai in Foni. “Pitching was scary as I am not used to speak in public, but now I feel like a real entrepreneur. Someone who has something to offer.”

And that shift, from informal hustling to formal agribusiness leadership, is what the Agri-Accelerator aims to achieve. As Momodou Bah, Manager of the Holistic Agribusiness Centre in Ballingho, stated, “These young agripreneurs have crossed the line. They’re no longer just producers; they’re value chain actors, agri-entrepreneurs with a vision.” Considering the enthusiasm and the efforts shown, the RDO coaches have indicated they will be continuing to coach the young agri-entrepreneurs beyond the life of the project.

For FAO and its partners, this is just the beginning. With the right technical support, market access, and knowledge on responsible investment, these youth-led agribusinesses can drive rural transformation. They can provide healthy food, create jobs, and build resilience against climate and economic shocks.

The Agri-Accelerator project in Gambia is a pilot project based on the Agri-Accelerator model, which has been designed by FAO and is being applied by the Organization in other 5 countries across West and North Africa.

For more information, please visit: Agri-accelerator 2.0 | Supporting Responsible Investments in Agriculture and Food Systems (RAI) | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations