PREAMBLE

Food, shelter and clothing form the basic needs of mankind. Governments of countries all over the world try to provide these basic needs to their citizenry.  All these needs are important but this ten issues plan is based on how The Gambia can improve on the provision of adequate food for its population.

Access to the right type, quality and quantity of food is a basic human right that every nation tries to observe.  To achieve this fundamental human right, countries have developed various ways and means of managing their agricultural sectors to provide food.

This sector management approach is often challenged by the Malthusian Theory that while food production increases at an arithmetic mean, population increases at geometric progression.

The demand for food and invariably agricultural produce therefore can hardly be met for the ever growing population of the world despite the advances made in the food security industry.  The issue is not only increasing agricultural production and processing but enhancing a sustainable and timely food production and distribution system so that food gets from the point of production and processing to a point where it is most needed but could not be produced or processed.

Consensus building on how The Gambia can meet the demand for food by its population and therefore fulfilling a basic human right deserves a much closer attention and commitment from all sectors of Gambian society.

In an effort to enhance the discussion on the matter, I am suggesting a ten issues plan for the transformation of the agricultural sector to help the country produce enough food to feed its population.

It is an attempt to organize and coordinate and hopefully promote dialogue and discussion through the print and broadcast media intended to build a consensus on the way forward for The Gambia meeting the food needs of its population.  Building a consensus on the way forward is half way trying to solve the problem.  The facilitation of the process to implement what has been agreed upon as the way forward is equally important if not more important.

These ten issues plan consists of the following key areas: Agricultural Policy and Regulatory Framework; Agriculture Sector Strategy Development; Increasing Investment in Agriculture; Agricultural Technology Assessment and Promotion; Developing and Implementing a Food Industry Strategy; Agricultural Development Bank; Agricultural Information and Communication; Producer Organization; Agribusiness; and Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation.

These ten issues are not in any order of importance or preference and can be discussed in any format.  What is important is to establish their interrelationships and the important roles they can play in the agricultural transformation process.

1. AGRICULTURAL POLICY AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

The transformation of the agricultural sector from a largely subsistence farming to large scale commercial farming will be enhanced by a comprehensive agriculture policy and regulatory framework.

The comprehensive policy and regulatory framework should provide the basis for a conducive environment for the sector transformation process.

The issues for consideration in the development of a policy and regulatory framework could include the following: a broadly defined agriculture; sustainability; increasing investment in agriculture; issues of land, labour, capital and entrepreneurship; private sector involvement; empowering producer organizations; processing and value added; issues of quality and standards; regional comparative advantages; and others.

The process of developing this comprehensive agriculture policy and regulatory framework is the responsibility of the Department of State for Agriculture (DOSA).  Thus DOSA is supposed to closely work with stakeholders at the national and grassroots levels to accomplish this important and over due national task.  Sample comprehensive policies that could be helpful as a guide include those of the education and health sectors policies whose development were enhanced by public expenditure reviews of these sectors.

The creation of the National Agricultural Development Agency (NADA) provides DOSA with the opportunity to concentrate on the agriculture sector policy and regulatory framework while the responsibility for the development of the sector strategy plan and its implementation go to NADA.  This arrangement has the additional advantage of avoiding duplication of roles and responsibilities of DOSA and NADA staff especially as these relate to policy and its implementation.

2. AGRICULTURAL SECTOR STRATEGY PLAN

The achievement of the sector goals and objectives and the transformation of the sector depend on a sound sector strategy plan.  This plan spells out in practical terms the ways and means of realizing the agricultural sector policy and regulatory framework and the way forward for the agricultural transformation process.

The National Agricultural Development Agency (NADA) has the mandate for the development of the agricultural sector to be based on DOSA’s agricultural policy and regulatory framework.  NADA must assess its human resource base, financial and material requirements to fulfill this mandate.

The guiding principle in identifying the critical mass of staff for NADA is not the issue of numbers of staff but quality, commitment, and clear cut achievable job targets that fall within the overall development plan and can be assessed and rewarded accordingly.  The financial and material requirements should be based on a comprehensive sustainable development plan.

The strategy plan development process like that of the policy and regulatory framework should be conducted at both national and grassroots levels.

Advances made in improved road network, rural electricity, telecommunications, and improved seaport and airport provide facilities for the development and successful implementation of a comprehensive sector strategic plan.

DOSA and NADA, by virtue of their  mandates, have  major roles to play in the agricultural transformation process and should collaborate with the wider society in guiding the process.

3. AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT AND PROMOTION

Since the time of colonial agriculture in The Gambia, agricultural technologies have been generated, disseminated and utilized to improve the performance of the sector.  The type of technologies promoted depend on what was and what is to be produced, on what scale, and for what purpose or purposes.  Two basic purposes for the development of agricultural technologies are to enhance increase of agricultural produce for consumption and/or for export.

Over the years many agricultural technologies have been developed and used in The Gambia.  This technology generation, desimination and utilization process has been the role of agricultural research and development undertaken by the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), Externsion Services and Farmers.

As a start, there should be a comprehensive assessment of currently available appropriate technologies for the various agricultural production systems and technologies that help transform various agricultural produce into finished products.  Some of these already existing best practices include: Cassava and Sweet Potato Production and Processing;

Findo Production and Processing; Sheep and Fattening, Pure Breeding (Ndama Cattle and Djallonke Sheep); Small Scale Milk Processing; Cockerel Exchange; Production of Short Cycle Species (Rabbits and Poultry); Production of Multi-Nutrient Blocks; Fresh Squeezed Local Tropical Fruit & Juices; Homemade Local Jams & Jellies; Fish Processing; Roasted Peanuts and Cashews; Local Hot Sauce to name a few.

The agricultural technology assessment should identify those technologies that are really appropriate and for what purpose and under what production system they have a comparative advantage.

These results would be used as guide for potential investors interested in investing in large scale commercial agriculture in regions of The Gambia that have the comparative advantage for the commodities to be produced.

The agricultural technology assessment should include the minimum inputs required for realization of profit by applying the technology and how its potential risks are to be avoided or reduced.

4. AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK

The need for some form of agricultural financing separate from the normal commercial banking system should be considered in the agricultural transformation process.  Two approaches to agricultural financing should be considered: support to large scale commercial agricultural; and support to small scale cottage industries that feed into the larger commercial system.

The small scale cottage industries that process agricultural produce can be supported by  short term investements already being offered by financial services such as: Village Savings and Credit Associations (VISACAs); Credit Unions; and Group Lending.

However, for medium and long term investments in agriculture, there is need to establish an Agricultural Development Bank that is amenable to the type of sustainable investment needed for the transformation of the agricultural sector.

This bank should ONLY FUND clearly defined AGRICULTURAL INVESTMENTS THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTE towards transforming the agricultural sector and NOTHING else.

Initial capital for the agricultural development bank should come from a joint venture between government and the non-state actors with the later allowed to manage the joint venture.  Government involvement should be gradually phased out as the bank gets  established.

5. AGRIBUSINESS

Agribusiness promotion within the agricultural sector transformation process is to increase agri-business knowledge, skills and attitude of mainly small scale and medium to large scale agricultural entrepreneurs to optimise their investment dividends.

Currently there are numerous agri-business and/or commercial organizations dealing in various aspects of agriculture such as input supply, production, marketing, processing and value added.

These include the fourteen members of the GCCI and over sixteen regular participants to the National Trade Fair including the National Farmers’ Platform (NFP) and the National Women Farmers’ Association (NAWFA), Gambia Indigenous Livestock Breeders’ Association, Rabbit Breeders’ Association; Kanilai Farms Ltd; Rural Poultry Farmers’ Association; First Choice Garden Centre (Feeds and Equipment); and Gambia Horticultural Enterprise (Equipment) to name a few.

The access to agri-business technical information and the optimization of financial services will require some support to agricultural entrepreneurs/beneficiaries of such facilities.  This support can be in the form of capacity building, advocacy, and the successful piloting of agri-business best practices to convince potential investors on the basis of  "seeing  is believing".

The vigorous emphasis should be put on the advocacy aspects using both the print and broadcast media to improve the knowledge, skills and attitude of producer organizations in agri-business.  The idea is to make significant break through in changing the current small scale subsistence agriculture to large scale commercial agriculture.

Do-It- Yourself (DIY) agri-business technical packages should be developed and capacity building of potential entrepreneurs through demonstrations and hands–on-practice and capacity building in simple basic agri-business management principles.

The best practices that have been piloted and have yielded good results will have to be vigorously promoted for scaling up through advocacy and financing facility.

Agribusiness Advisory Services (AAS) should be establihsed at national, regional, district and possibly village leves to promote the concept and practice of agriculture as a business.  The AAS should be supported by the agricultural information and commnication facilities.

6. AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

The change from subsistence agriculture to large scale commercial system of agriculture is enhanced by access to valid and reliable agricultural information.  The agricultural information should be derived from basic agricultural science and agricultural economics relevant to The Gambia.

The regional farming systems based on scientific agricultural information such as geography, demography, land/soils, rainfall pattern, crops and livestock production etc should be made accessible.

Agribusiness information on financing, crops, livestock, marketing and inputs supply, etc should be available through the print and broadcast media to potential investors interested in agriculture.  Such information could be obtained through compilation of already existing data and information and putting together such information in Reader Friendly Publications for Investors.

The already assessed and proven appropriate agricultural technologies should be promoted for large scale commercial agriculture.

7. PRODUCER ORGANIZATIONS

Empowering producer organizations is important in the transformation of the agricultural sector.  The empowering process should ensure that producer organizations have national, regional, district and village representation and that they are properly managed and understand their rights, roles and responsibilities in the agricultural transformation process.

The other important aspect of empowering producer organizations is to jointly develop an agricultural investment system based regional comparative advantages and the suitability of agricultural technologies for each of the regions.  These investment systems should be identified by the agribusiness advisory services and the producer organizations.

8. INCREASING INVESTMENT IN AGRICULTURE

The transformation of the agricultural sector from a largely subsistence system of agricultural production to a large scale commercialization system of agriculture that lays emphasis on a comprehensive sustainable production system calls for an increase in investment in the sector.

Already a favourable government trade policy that is based on the principles of liberalization, deregulation, and investment promotion exists.  In addition to this, the  development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), National Export Strategy,  Consumer Protection, Standards and Quality Control Law and the  Legislation on Limits of Error for packaged commodities are welcome developments in the effort to transform the agriculture sector.

The promotion of investment is a prerequsite to investment if cleintelle are to be  attracted to do business in The Gambia.  The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), the Tourism Industry, and the Gambia Investment Promotion Free  Zones Agency (GIPFZA) were established to play this role.  These institutions should be allowed to play these key roles as part of  the agricultural transformation process.

The combination of a good agricultural sector policy, a sound strategy, appropriate agricultural technologies to choose from, suitable financing facility, and agribusiness skills development, a food industry to transform agricultural produce, all pakaged in a reader friendly and do-it-yourself information, will contribute significantly to enhancing investment in the sector.

9. DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A NATIONAL FOOD INDUSTRY STRATEGY

An equally important aspect of the agricultural transformation process is the development and implementation of a food industry strategy.  The strategy should emphasize the promotion of local know-how on recipes using locally available agricultural produce.

The complimentary option is the use of outside know-how for local recipe improvements while using locally available agricultural produce.

This strategy should address weaknesses such as poor cold chain integrity, inadequate storage, an absence of wholesale markets and packaging materials, poor post-harvest handling and limited business skills.  The improved country’s infrastructure, telecommunication and transport should facilitate the establishment of such an industry.

Already members of GCCI are involved in various aspects of agri-business and participants to the National Trade Fair are involved in agro inputs, services and supply, processing and selling of grains and flour, processing and selling of fruit juices, and fish and fish products.

The other agricultural technologies mentioned above and these enterprises/small scale cottage industries have been successfully using low level appropriate technologies that have worked which need to be assessed, improved and promoted to start the development of a food industry.

Short, medium and long term agricultural development financing facilities mentioned earlier should be accessed by investors to start such a food industry.

10. PARTICIPATORY MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation (PM&E) simply put is designed to involve beneficiaries in monitoring and evaluating interventions.

The rationale underlying the approach is to directly involve beneficiaries in all aspect of assessing interventions and by so doing increase their capacity to judge for themselves the benefits of interventions for which they had expressed a felt need.

There will be a need to set up a PM&E for the transformation of the agricultural sector.  All the ten issues including the PM&E itself should be assessed before and after and on a continuous basis once the issues are put into practice and the transformation process starts.

SUMMARY

This ten issues plan help to answer questions that most investors interested in agriculture would ask.  These questions are what I call the Five Ws and One H: WHAT is to be Produced/Processed?  WHY it is to be Produced/Processed?  WHERE and WHEN it is to be Produced/Processed?  WHO is to Produce/Process it? HOW it is to be Produced/Processed?