Gambia: Deputy agriculture minister says GNAIP should be inclusive

The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) in collaboration with ECOWAP, NEPAD and CAADP Horizon 2025, convey a three days workshop from the 27^th to 29^th September, 2016 at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.

  

The deputy minister of Agriculture, Mr. Sherriffo Bojang, presided over the official opening on behalf of the minister.

The restitution workshop is to launch the development process of the second generation of the Gambia National Agricultural Investment Plan-GNAIP 2.0 for agricultural transformation in The Gambia. 

GNAIP is the national blueprint for the development of Gambia’s agriculture sector.

Deputy minister Bojang stated that the next generation of GNAIP should include development of an inclusive approach, the inclusion of women and youth, rethinking in agricultural development, develop value chains, and support to enable agricultural productivity.

Mr. Bojang said there has been renewed commitment to the African Union Commission/New Partnership for Africa Development-pioneered process for the development of comprehensive regional agricultural programme.

This is in pursuit of Africa agricultural growth and transformation goal for the period 2016-2025 endorsed by the African Union heads of states and governments in Malabo in 2014.

He was quick to admit that the effort of the country in the implementation of GNAIP 1.0 was challenged especially with regards to funding, leading to low achievement of set targets.

He went on to say that the development of comprehensive agricultural process entailed developing regional agricultural investment plans, and national agricultural and food security investment plans.

The deputy minister noted that it is through accelerating agricultural transformation in The Gambia that the country be self-sufficient in food.

He adds; “Indeed, the country has achieved a significant progress over the last ten years in the areas of land development, water control, input supply, partnership development, modernisation of equipment and strategic plan development,” he said.

 “We must also develop advocacy for better repositioning of agriculture on the agenda nationally,” he affirmed.

Speaking on behalf of CSO, Producer organisations, Gender Network & Private Sector, Mrs. Fatou Samba Njie says farmers should not be left out in the implementation adding that "help farmers who are producing your food on your table".

Day 2: Panel discussions- Non State Actors, Private Sector, Gender Network, CSOs, NYC & Nedi Gambia.Panelists concurred that youth should be fully involved in the designing and the implementation of the GNAIP 2. 

Mr. Momodou Mbye Jabang, Central Projects Coordinating Unit (CPCU) also the project director, GCAV says that the GNAIP 1.0 was prepared in a highly  consultative and participatory manner thus aimed at producing a document that is not only of the highest quality, but also has the ownership of the widest spectrum of stakeholders (government agencies, non-governmental organizations and the private sector).

As a framework, he said, GNAIP is aimed at helping achieve the policies objectives of the government adding that the program is thus deeply rooted both in the national, regional, and   international development frameworks and agenda.