Agricultural Revitalization
Generating wealth for farmers & ensuring food security for the Gambia
OUR MISSION
In the Gambia, agriculture is known to be the backbone of the economy and the main source of food security, rural employment and export potential especially groundnut. The National Builders Party (NBP) believes that our nation’s path to true economic independence must begin in the soil. Under our leadership, agriculture will no longer be treated as a subsistence activity. The NBP plans to transform farming into a highly productive, commercial, and technology-driven sector that generates wealth for farmers and ensures food security for the Gambia.
OUR PLAN
- Cash Incentives for Large-Scale Farmers
For the first time in Gambian history, the government will introduce a targeted cash incentive program for registered large-scale farmers. These financial grants will support:
- Acquisition of land and much needed farm machinery;
- Purchase of certified seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides;
- Labor-intensive operations during peak growing seasons;
- Storage, processing, and packaging infrastructure.
The goal is to scale up agricultural production, reduce imports, and position The Gambia as a net exporter of key crops, especially rice, corn, millet, cotton and groundnut and also a variety of fruits and vegetables.
- Commercialization of Farming Operations
The NBP will actively support the transition from smallholder to commercial agriculture. By identifying and supporting farmers who have the land, potential and willingness to expand, the government will ensure that agriculture becomes a competitive profit-driven sector. This target can be achieved through:
- Public-private farming partnerships (PPFPs);
- Easier access to agribusiness loans and insurance schemes;
- Access to modern machinery and mechanization services through government-backed cooperatives;
- Support in establishing direct market linkages locally and internationally.
- National Agricultural Inspection and Monitoring Office (NAIMO)
Similar to the National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI), a new agriculture institution NAIMO will be created within the Department of Agriculture. Among their functions will be:
- Register and certify commercial farmers eligible for government programs;
- Monitor and evaluate progress in alignment with the national agricultural master plan;
- Offer technical guidance and agronomic extension services;
- Ensure transparency, accountability and impact from government interventions.
NAIMO will deploy trained inspectors across regions to support and supervise farming efforts, ensuring all incentives are results-based and tied to performance benchmarks.
- Promotion of Rice as the National Cash Crop
To reduce dependency on imported rice and increase local food sovereignty, the NBP will declare rice as The Gambia’s primary national cash crop. The rice promotion strategy will include:
- Prioritizing rice farmers in the cash incentive and equipment allocation programs;
- Allocating high-potential land zones specifically for rice cultivation;
- Supporting irrigation infrastructure to allow year-round production;
- Establishing rice processing and milling plants in major farming zones to reduce post-harvest loss and increase value-added products.
The long-term objective is to achieve national rice self-sufficiency within five years, while creating thousands of jobs across the value chain from planting and harvesting to processing and marketing.
- International Partnerships and Technical Expertise
To ensure world-class implementation, the NBP government will invite foreign agricultural experts and technical consultants to assist with:
- Designing and executing a results-driven national agricultural transformation plan;
- Training local agricultural officers and extension workers;
- Introducing climate-smart agriculture techniques to mitigate the effects of drought, flood, and changing rainfall patterns;
- Advising on export strategy, quality control, and certification for foreign markets.
Priority will be given to partners with successful records in similar agricultural contexts, particularly in Asia, Europe, and the United States.
IMPORTANCE
The NBP agro-master plan will involve the introduction of new food products to the Gambian farming landscape. Large scale animal husbandry such as ducks, chicken, dairy, sheep, cattle, fish, bee farming, and plants such as soy beans, and cash crops such as cotton, tobacco, and cocoa.
Additionally, Large scale production of fruits and vegetables will be encouraged i.e. Apple, Grapes, Cranberry, Strawberry, Cherry, Nectarine, Peaches and Banana.
The National Builders Party sees agriculture as a modern, dynamic and a major economic engine that if properly utilized, will ensure that the Gambia becomes food self-sufficient. Through incentives, infrastructure, inspection and innovation, the NBP government will make farming profitable and transformational for farmers, for families, and for The Gambia.
