{"id":119955,"date":"2025-06-22T13:35:52","date_gmt":"2025-06-22T12:35:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=119955"},"modified":"2025-06-22T13:35:52","modified_gmt":"2025-06-22T12:35:52","slug":"gambia-seeks-nigerias-support-to-boost-rice-production","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/gambia-seeks-nigerias-support-to-boost-rice-production\/","title":{"rendered":"Gambia Seeks Nigeria\u2019s Support to Boost Rice Production"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Daniel Adaji<\/div>\n
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The Government of Gambia is seeking Nigeria\u2019s support to improve rice production and achieve food self-sufficiency, as part of a broader agricultural collaboration between both countries.<\/div>\n
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This was the highlight of a recent courtesy visit by the Gambian Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security, Dr. Dembal Sabally, to Nigeria\u2019s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, in Abuja.<\/div>\n
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Sabally said Gambia currently imports over 80 per cent of its rice and hopes to learn from Nigeria\u2019s progress in local rice cultivation. \u201cNigeria has overcome rice insufficiency, of which Gambia is still struggling to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n
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The Gambian delegation toured rice mills and irrigation facilities in Kebbi State. \u201cWe saw the irrigation processes and intend to replicate the same in Gambia,\u201d Sabally noted.<\/div>\n
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He added that Nigeria\u2019s out grower scheme stood out among the strategies they hope to adopt.<\/div>\n
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\u00a0\u201cThe scheme covers the challenges from post-harvest management, mechanisation, seeds, packaging, and the trade of rice.\u201d<\/div>\n
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To consolidate the collaboration, Sabally called on Nigeria to assign a \u201cRice Ambassador\u201d to help replicate the model in Gambia.<\/div>\n
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Responding in a statement on Sunday, Kyari welcomed the partnership, praising Gambia\u2019s efforts to learn from Nigeria\u2019s experience. \u201cWe must achieve food security and food sovereignty,\u201d he said, quoting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu\u2019s directive on agriculture.<\/div>\n
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Kyari emphasised zed that Nigeria has made huge investments in agriculture, including over N200bn in interventions and the free distribution of over N2.15m worth of fertilisers to farmers.<\/div>\n
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He also highlighted achievements in wheat production: \u201cIn 2023, farmers were also assisted with imported wheat seeds and as at last year, no seed was imported, because we have developed our own seeds internally.\u201d<\/div>\n
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The Minister acknowledged challenges in rice affordability and availability but pointed to ongoing solutions, including increased mechanisation.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe have a huge capacity within our youths, but because of the drudgery involved, it scares them away. We felt the need to take up mechanisation to make agriculture a business,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n
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Kyari also noted the benefits of Nigeria\u2019s out grower scheme. \u201cIt has turned agriculture around we believe that small-scale farmers should also have access to long-term financing.\u201d<\/div>\n
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The meeting concluded with the presentation of key policy documents, including the National Agricultural Transformation Agenda, to the Gambian team.<\/div>\n
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Also present were Nigeria\u2019s Minister of State for Agriculture, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, the Permanent Secretaries of both ministries, and development partners.<\/div>\n
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