South-South Cooperation project supports the transformation of rice and millet food systems in The Gambia

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) of China and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security (MoALFS) of The Gambia have officially signed a South-South Cooperation (SSC) project aimed at transforming the country’s rice and millet food systems. 

The project, titled Sustainable Rice and Millet Food Systems Transformation in The Gambia Through South-South Cooperation with the People’s Republic of China, is funded by a USD 1.5 million contribution from the Government of China through the FAO-China SSC Trust Fund. 

Rice and millet are the two primary staple crops in The Gambia. The country’s per capita rice consumption significantly surpasses the global average. However, domestic rice production meets less than 10 percent of the national demand, making The Gambia heavily dependent on imports and vulnerable to global market fluctuations. This dependency exacerbates food insecurity in the country.

Similarly, despite millet’s critical role as the second major staple crop, its sector faces significant challenges, including insufficient funding, limited post-harvest mechanization, and weak market linkages.

To address these pressing issues, the SSC project will support the country’s rice and millet production, processing, marketing, and value chain development by providing access to advanced agricultural technologies, improved post-harvest practices, efficient processing methods and market systems to a diverse set of stakeholders.

A key feature of the project will be the deployment of Chinese experts to The Gambia. The experts will bring extensive expertise in critical areas, such as rice and millet breeding, irrigation and water management, mechanization, and post-harvest management. Their support will be instrumental in fostering innovation and capacity-building among local farmers and agricultural stakeholders.

The project is expected to directly benefit 28,000 farmers, extension workers, and technical officers, while indirectly impacting an estimated 160,000 individuals, including researchers and stakeholders from various agricultural institutions across The Gambia.

By promoting knowledge exchange and leveraging China’s experience in agricultural development, this initiative will contribute significantly to strengthening food security and reducing rice import dependency in The Gambia.