ROOTS project Gambia

ROOTS project Gambia Resilience of Organizations for Transformative Smallholder Agriculture project (ROOTS)

PRESIDENT BARROW VISITS ROOTS LAND DEVELOPMENT SITE IN GENIERI, LRRHis Excellency President Adama Barrow today visited t...
14/08/2026

PRESIDENT BARROW VISITS ROOTS LAND DEVELOPMENT SITE IN GENIERI, LRR

His Excellency President Adama Barrow today visited the ROOTS Project Land Development Site in Genieri, Kiang East District, Lower River Region (LRR), where significant progress is being registered under the Project’s ongoing land development programme.

The President was accompanied by the Honourable Dr. Demba Sabally, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security, alongside senior government officials and other dignitaries.
The visit provided an opportunity for His Excellency to observe firsthand the progress of the cascaded d***s and micro-catchment irrigation development works, designed to improve agricultural productivity (Rice production), strengthen climate resilience and enhance the livelihoods of smallholder farming communities.

The Genieri site covers 30.36 hectares and has reached 95% overall completion. Key infrastructure includes 2.643 km of d***s, a 942-metre access road, a primary spillway, seven secondary spillways and a culvert gate. The access road, spillways, culvert gate and d***s have all reached 100% completion, while rip-rap protection stands at 75%.
The development is expected to directly benefit 244 people, including 195 women and 49 men, from a community of 630 people and 77 households.

The Genieri intervention forms part of Lot 1 of the ROOTS Land Development Works, covering eight sites across the Lower River, West Coast and North Bank Regions, with a combined area of 388 hectares.

The Presidential visit underscores the Government of The Gambia’s commitment to transforming agriculture through investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, increased production and productivity, and improved livelihoods for rural communities, particularly women and smallholder farmers.
ROOTS is Building resilience, transforming agriculture and improving rural livelihoods.

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) FIDAfrique-IFADAfrica Gambia Youth Chamber of Commerce Gambia Women’s Chamber Of Commerce The Gambia Chamber of Commerce & Industry - GCCI Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock & Food Security Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

06/08/2026

ROOTS In The Rice Field!
( Beneficiary Testimonial)

Meet Hamang Comma from Wassu CRR, the President of Kankiling Rice Field Association,

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) FIDAfrique-IFADAfrica Gambia Youth Chamber of Commerce Gambia Women’s Chamber Of Commerce The Gambia Chamber of Commerce & Industry - GCCI Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock & Food Security Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

ROOTS and FSQA Conclude Five-Day Food Safety and Quality Management Training!The ROOTS Project, in collaboration with th...
31/07/2026

ROOTS and FSQA Conclude Five-Day Food Safety and Quality Management Training!

The ROOTS Project, in collaboration with the Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA), has successfully concluded a five-day training on Food Safety and Quality Management (Good Hygiene Practices – GHP & HACCP), held from 26th to 31st July 2026 at the NaNA Conference Room.

The training brought together 38 agri-food enterprises, comprising ROOTS Youth-Based Matching Grant beneficiaries and members of the National Association of Food Processors, to strengthen their knowledge and skills in food safety and quality management.

This initiative directly supports Component 2 of the ROOTS Project, which focuses on improving market access by strengthening agricultural value chains and enhancing the competitiveness of farmer organizations and agri-food enterprises. Meeting food safety and quality standards is key to accessing higher-value markets, increasing consumer confidence, and ensuring sustainable business growth.

The training was developed following a Food Safety Training Needs Assessment, which identified significant gaps in Good Hygiene Practices (GHP), HACCP implementation, and overall food safety management among beneficiary enterprises. Over the five-day programme, participants acquired practical knowledge to improve their operations, product quality, and compliance with national food safety standards.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, ROOTS Project Director, Mr. Famara Trawally, congratulated the participants and encouraged them to put the knowledge gained into practice. He noted that the next phase of the programme will focus on facility-level coaching and technical guidance for enterprises that qualified through the eligibility assessment, while encouraging others to continue improving their facilities and practices in preparation for future support.

Representing the Director General of FSQA, Mr. Fofana commended participants for their active engagement and reaffirmed the Authority's commitment to supporting agri-food enterprises. He emphasised that the assessment identified critical gaps within the sector and assured participants that FSQA remains available to provide continuous guidance as they work towards meeting national food safety standards.

Funded by the ROOTS Project and implemented by the Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA), the training forms part of the project's ongoing commitment to building competitive, resilient, and market-ready agri-food enterprises across The Gambia.

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) FIDAfrique-IFADAfrica Gambia Youth Chamber of Commerce Gambia Women’s Chamber Of Commerce The Gambia Chamber of Commerce & Industry - GCCI Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock & Food Security Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Transforming Landscapes, Growing the Future of Rice Production! The transformation of agricultural landscapes continues ...
31/07/2026

Transforming Landscapes, Growing the Future of Rice Production!

The transformation of agricultural landscapes continues across the West Coast Region as the ROOTS Project makes steady progress on its ongoing land development works in Kandunku, Baterdeng Kajara, and Ndemban Jola in Foni.

These once underutilized landscapes are being reshaped into productive rice-growing areas that will strengthen food security, improve rural livelihoods, and contribute to The Gambia's drive towards rice self-sufficiency. Through strategic investments in land development and climate-resilient agricultural infrastructure, ROOTS is laying the foundation for sustainable rice production and creating new opportunities for farming communities.

The first images showcase the remarkable progress at Kandunku and Baterdeng Kajara, while the second highlights the ongoing works at Ndemban Jola. Once completed, these sites will become thriving rice production hubs, empowering farmers with improved access to productive land and supporting increased agricultural output.

Together with the Government of The Gambia and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), ROOTS remains committed to transforming agriculture, building resilience, and improving the lives of rural communities, one landscape at a time.

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) FIDAfrique-IFADAfrica Gambia Youth Chamber of Commerce Gambia Women’s Chamber Of Commerce The Gambia Chamber of Commerce & Industry - GCCI Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock & Food Security Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

The ROOTS Project is committed to improving food and nutrition security by promoting sustainable agricultural production...
30/07/2026

The ROOTS Project is committed to improving food and nutrition security by promoting sustainable agricultural production in intervention communities.

As part of this initiative, the project is introducing improved rainy season onion varieties to increase productivity, enhance farmers’ resilience to climate variability, and improve household incomes.

This activity is being implemented by the NARI Horticulture Unit. Following the successful establishment of the nursery, healthy onion seedlings are now ready for transplanting into the main field at the ROOTS Project intervention garden in Giboro Village, marking another important step towards a successful harvest. This will be multi located in other ROOTS gardens in other project regions.

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) FIDAfrique-IFADAfrica Gambia Youth Chamber of Commerce Gambia Women’s Chamber Of Commerce The Gambia Chamber of Commerce & Industry - GCCI Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock & Food Security Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

ROOTS Project Strengthens Community Knowledge on Sustainable Land Management through GEF Learning Forums!Last week, the ...
28/07/2026

ROOTS Project Strengthens Community Knowledge on Sustainable Land Management through GEF Learning Forums!

Last week, the ROOTS Project, with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), successfully concluded a series of Thematic Learning Forums across the North Bank Region (NBR), Lower River Region (LRR), and West Coast Region (WCR). The forums focused on strengthening the sustainable management of Agroforestry, Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR), and Pasture and Rangeland Management interventions.

The forums brought together project beneficiaries, technical experts from the Departments of Forestry, Parks and Wildlife, Livestock Services, Regional Agriculture Directorates, and ROOTS Project staff to exchange experiences, discuss implementation challenges, and identify practical solutions to enhance the long-term sustainability of GEF-supported interventions.

Through interactive presentations, beneficiary testimonies, and peer-to-peer learning, participants shared community-led management practices that have contributed to high tree survival rates, successful pasture establishment, and improved protection of community forests. Discussions also highlighted key challenges, including bush fires, termite infestation, livestock intrusion, flooding, waterlogging, weak fencing, and limited community participation.

A key highlight of the forums was the field learning visits to some of the best-performing agroforestry sites, where participants observed first-hand the management practices behind the high survival rates of lime and moringa trees. Successful communities demonstrated the value of strong management committees, effective community by-laws, routine monitoring, timely replacement of dead seedlings, fire prevention measures, and collective ownership of project interventions.

The learning forums reaffirmed that knowledge sharing among communities is a powerful tool for improving project performance and ensuring the long-term sustainability of climate-resilient land management practices.

Through these initiatives, the ROOTS Project continues to equip rural communities with practical knowledge that supports environmental restoration, strengthens climate resilience, improves livestock production, and contributes to sustainable livelihoods across The Gambia.

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) FIDAfrique-IFADAfrica Gambia Youth Chamber of Commerce Gambia Women’s Chamber Of Commerce The Gambia Chamber of Commerce & Industry - GCCI Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock & Food Security Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

ROOTS Project Hands Over 510 Hectares Pacharr Tidal Irrigation Rehabilitation Site to Contractor!Another major milestone...
21/07/2026

ROOTS Project Hands Over 510 Hectares Pacharr Tidal Irrigation Rehabilitation Site to Contractor!

Another major milestone has been reached in The Gambia's journey towards rice self-sufficiency as the Resilience of Organizations for Transformative Smallholder Agriculture Project (ROOTS) officially handed over the Pacharr Tidal Irrigation Scheme Rehabilitation Site (Sub Lot 1 of Lot 3) to Long Jian Road and Bridge Company Limited for the commencement of rehabilitation works.

Funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the US$4.44 million investment will rehabilitate 510.1 hectares across Units 4, 5, 6, 7 and Pacharr 105. The rehabilitation works, expected to commence in November 2026 after the rainy season, will include the rehabilitation of irrigation canals, construction of hydraulic structures, strengthening of dikes, installation of water control systems, land levelling, improved drainage networks, and upgrading of farm access roads to enhance irrigation efficiency and climate resilience.

The ceremony was graced by Honourable Ousman Bah, Governor of the Central River Region (CRR), alongside Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security, Dr. Demba Sabally, the Permanent Secretary, the Regional Agricultural Director, the Seyfo of the District, National Assembly Member Hon. Gibbi Mballow, development partners, community leaders, farmers, and other key stakeholders.

Speaking at the event, the Regional Agricultural Director for CRR, Mr. John Mendy, described the intervention as a significant step towards addressing the recurring flooding and water management challenges affecting the Jahally-Pacharr perimeter, expressing confidence that the rehabilitation will make a meaningful contribution to achieving The Gambia's Rice Self-Sufficiency Agenda by 2030.

The ROOTS Project Director thanked farmers and stakeholders for their patience since consultations began in 2021, emphasizing that improved land development, efficient water management, and land levelling are essential to increasing rice productivity to an average of 3.6 tonnes per hectare.

Representatives of Long Jian Road and Bridge Company Limited pledged to deliver quality work, while the supervising consultant, PACE, assured stakeholders that the project would be closely monitored to ensure compliance with the required standards.

On behalf of the farming community, Haruna Gassama, President of the Jahally-Pacharr Rice Farmers Association, expressed gratitude to the Government and the ROOTS Project for the continued investments in agricultural machinery, transplanters, combine harvesters, and other interventions that have transformed rice production in the area. He also assured the contractor of the farmers' full cooperation throughout the implementation period.

Delivering the keynote address, Honourable Minister Dr. Demba Sabally reaffirmed the Government's commitment to ensuring the successful and timely delivery of the project. He noted that while physical construction will begin after the rainy season, preliminary activities, including surveys and other technical preparations, will continue in the interim. He also urged beneficiaries to protect the infrastructure and equipment provided, emphasizing that the Pacharr perimeter remains a strategic investment in strengthening the country's agricultural sector.

The rehabilitation of the Pacharr Tidal Irrigation Scheme represents another significant investment under the ROOTS Project to strengthen climate resilient agriculture, increase rice productivity, improve rural livelihoods, and accelerate The Gambia's journey towards national rice self sufficiency. The project is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of The Gambia, reaffirming their shared commitment to transforming the country's agricultural sector and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) FIDAfrique-IFADAfrica Gambia Women’s Chamber Of Commerce Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock & Food Security Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

21/07/2026

ROOTS In The Rice Field!
( Beneficiary's Testimonial)

Meet Imam Foday Jabbi, a Farmer from Niani Kayai Rice Field.

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) FIDAfrique-IFADAfrica Gambia Youth Chamber of Commerce The Gambia Chamber of Commerce & Industry - GCCI Gambia Women’s Chamber Of Commerce Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock & Food Security Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

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