After the launching of the GGCP and WAAPP by the Head of State, Amat JENG looks back at how the projects will provide the necessary financing for change management in key public sector institutions, as well as the advantages the projects have on the socio-economic development of the country.
The launching of the Gambia Growth and Competiveness Project (GGCP) at a tone of US$12 million, and the West African Agricultural Productivity Programme also at the tone of US$12 million respectively, could not have come a better time than now, considering that they both have been designed to respond and mitigate the impact on the fuel, food and financial crises, particularly for small economies like The Gambia.
Already, the fuel and financial crises have remained unabated and, in addition to the challenges of climate change, they present a strong case for increased attention to these economies in order to build the required capacities to contain them and weather the storm.
GGCP seeks among other things to address and contribute further to the development of agriculture through and out-grower scheme. This scheme will be in two phases, the first, which spans year one to four, is to test and develop the establishment of a “commercial mango farming system in partnership with one or more private investor in order to produce a consistent volume and quality of new and existing mango varieties targeted for fresh fruit export market”. As well as supporting private investments in processing secondary and tertiary quality produce for domestic and export markets. Phase 2, which will run from year four to five, would competently strengthen the capacity of small holder farmers and link them to the international market supply chain, particularly for exporting premium grade mangoes.
“That Phase two will also support the establishment of a primary and secondary processing facilities for pulping, freezing and drying and that the pulping and freezing processes will result in the much needed production of high quality ingredients for the year round generation of fresh juices, concentrates and other products for both the international and local market, the project justifiably raises expectations very high,” said President Jammeh, adding that the drying component will happily enable the supply of dried mangoes for production of confectionery and other food products. “Indeed, we welcome the development of the processing facilities for not only the enhancement of adding value to our products, but also increasing further employment opportunities.”
However, there is cause for optimism, as the WAAPP is principally intended to generate and accelerate the adoption of improved technologies in the participating countries’ top agricultural commodity priority areas that are aligned with the sub-region’s top agricultural commodity priorities, as outlined in the ECOWAP.
President Jammeh, in his remarks also challenges that it is intriguing to note that this project constitutes part of the 1st Phase of the program, and therefore consist of “enabling conditions for sub-regional cooperation in generation, dissemination and adoption of agricultural technologies; strengthening of the agricultural research system in West Africa; funding of demand-driven technology generation and adoption; facilitating access to improved genetic material; and project coordination, management, monitoring and evaluation.” WAAP is a substantial project, as it will attract an investment of US$13 million to be funded through the International Development Associate (IDA) grant of US$7.0 million and a Food Crisis Response Core Trust Grant of US$5.0 million.
WAAP is viewed as part of a larger commitment by the WB to assist countries to enhance long-term food availability by providing a mix of support for short-term supply responses and sustainable medium and long-term investments for increased agricultural productivity.
As regards his initiative for women empowerment, President challenged the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) to focus more attention on the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs), saying “particularly women entrepreneurs who are undeniably major players in the informal economy”.
Through private sector-led growth, the project would contribute towards sustaining the growth of the country’s economy. The project interventions have the potential for very favorable social outcomes including employment generation and poverty reduction.
The Minister for Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, Hon. Mamburay Njie explains how it will contribute to significant achievements of key national development and programme: “The matching grant scheme will enhance business productivity and growth leading to increased jobs, skills and incomes for workers. The horticulture out-growers scheme is expected to have a direct impact on farming household incomes and poverty levels, shifting farmers from subsistence agriculture to more market-oriented farming through which social and economic opportunities can be expanded. The pilot tourism investment projects planned, designed and implemented through good practice models of public-private partnership could also lead to direct socio-economic benefit for adjacent communities and minimize environmental impacts and disruption of communities.”
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“Under the project [GGCP], we expect The Gambia to, amongst other initiatives, further develop, add value, and expand its seed improvement, certification, and multiplication programs, as its comparative advantage, so that it will emerge as the certified seeds supplier of the region, which has a large market,” Carlos Cavar Canti, World Bank senior economist on Gambia, said.
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