VP LINKS MDGs ACHIEVEMENTS TO FOOD SECURITY

The country’s vice president has underscored the importance of food security to the achievements of the country’s development blueprints and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), saying “without food security, we cannot achieve the MDGs”.
Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy was speaking at the Ocean Bay Hotel on Wednesday on the occasion of the fourth regional conclave on ‘food security and commercialization of agriculture’, organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), under the
Italian government-funded project for food security.

The meeting that brought together top FAO officials from the West African region, Gambian ministers, and various stakeholders of the agriculture chain was, among other things, aimed at sharing knowledge and best practices that are designed to make a paradigm shift from subsistence agricultural practices to commercialization practices. Regional gatherings of such nature are essential, the vice president said, adding that given the commitment of the government to uplift the socio-economic status of its 1.8 million people, adding that food security is very apt to the newly formulated blueprint – the Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment (PAGE).

“Strengthening the agricultural sector makes sense,” VP Njie-Saidy said, adding that the agriculture sector is the backbone of the country’s economy, contributing 24% of GDP and creating 70% employment opportunities, especially for rural women, who are the most vulnerable victims of poverty.
However, Dr Njie-Saidy reminded the meeting of President Jammeh’s economic philosophy of ‘back to the land’, saying this is “resonating in the minds of Gambians”.

Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy
When the food crisis occurred, Gambians did not take to the street, she said, adding that if it were not for the shortage of the rains, the nation could have had a bumper harvest.
She said combating food crisis includes non-dependence on rains; rather the nation has to strategize for year-round farming, which will include building drainage and irrigation systems.

She believes that not all sectors in the country can leverage growth, thus some sectors should complement the “leveragers of growth”, in order for growth to be realised.
The vice president also underscored the importance of putting in place mechanisms that would help counter contingent liabilities of food crisis, saying: “We cannot continue to rely on international markets.”

Dr Babagano Ahmadu, FAO country rep

Musa Saihu Mbenga, FAO sub-regional coordinator, believes the Italian government-sponsored programme provides opportunities for participating countries to receive technical support from its pool of experts.
Mr Mbenga, who was a former minister of Agriculture in The Gambia, spoke on the importance of “packing and processing” of products, noting that these could serve as added impetus to market access.

In his remarks on the occasion, Dr Babagano Ahmadu, FAO country rep, said the project has impacted positively on the lives and socio-economic development of rural women, who represent the highest figure of poverty.
While the project winds up this year, the FAO-Gambia boss pleads for the expansion of the Italian-initiated project, giving its meaningful contribution to poverty eradication in the country.

He said discourse on agriculture-related issues provides platforms for devising strategies of transforming subsistence agriculture to a market-oriented entity, adding that he is confident the region would excel in its strive to achieving commercialization of agriculture.