Gambia’s Record Remittances Make up Over a Third of GDP

Remittances have become a major source of foreign exchange for The Gambia (Photo by Mass Njie | TNBES | August 13, 2019)

Gambian Guild Joins Global Agric Journalists Federation

NAC, DFAJ trainers and community radio journalists at the launch of a 19-month training on agriculture reporting, Nov. 2015 (Photo Credit: Dawda Bayo)

Gambia, Senegal Implement Agreement to Strengthen Bilateral Interests

Sall and Barrow speaking to the press in Banjul,
Tuesday (photo credit: Omar Wally)

The Gambia and Senegal have concluded the first talks to strengthen what both countries say are “bilateral interests” via the newly formed Presidential Council.

The meeting, held from March 11-13, 2018 in Banjul, focused on bilateral issues of common interest.

It was preceded by talks between the Gambian President Adama Barrow and his Senegalese counterpart Macky Sall. 

The Presidential Council (of experts and ministers) was set up by a joint communique between the two countries in March 2017 at the visit of the Gambian president to Senegal.

It would meet every six months, alternatively, in The Gambia and Senegal, under the joint chairmanship of the two heads of state.

The meeting, attended by officials of the two governments, examined all issues of bilateral interest.

Officials of the two countries said the biannual meeting would provide guidance to the two governments for deepening cooperation.

Restrictions on industrial fishing

Decisions reached by the Council are to be implemented by the Senegalo-Gambian Permanent Committee, which is co-chaired by the Vice-President of The Gambia and the Prime Minister of Senegal. 

One tractor is increasing agricultural production and yield in 27 villages

The multiple roles the tractor plays make it a lucrative investment. They use it for tilling the ground, transporting sand and stones for housing (Photo taken from Sunu Rew shows a tractor parked at Bansang Hospital)

Causeway increases rice production by two folds

Mr. Banjul Yaffa, a Contact Farmer showing previously inaccessible land at the Masembe rice fields to a regional agricultural director and an agriculture expert (Photo Credit: MSJoof/TNBES)

GYIN Gambia ELIT 2017: Expanding Youth Development Through Entrepreneurial Mentorship

ELIT 2016 participants pose for an opening photo in Jenoi, Lower River Region (Photo Credit: Modou S. Joof/GYIN Gambia/July 2016)

South Africa: Agric, Culture, People and the Sky

South Africa is a water scarce country where only 12 per cent of land can be used for crop production, but it is Africa’s largest producer and the only net exporter of food on the continent, says Nico van Burick, chairperson of the Local Organising Committee for the 2017 IFAJ World Congress. In this photo, Vito Rugani (center) displays carrots to a visiting team of IFAJ delegates at his carrot packaging and juice factory in the Gauteng region. He moved from rags to riches in 20 years and used to sleep on the floor at an apartment in Johannesburg in the early 1990s. Today, Rugani and his partner, Vincent Sequeira, produces 40% of South Africa's carrots (Photo Credit: M.S.Joof/TNBES/April 4)

Africa Forum: Journalists Find Solutions to Challenges Facing Agric Journalism

One of the most important tools we can use to improve agriculture is to invest in young people - IFAJ President Owen Roberts (Photo Credit: M.S.Joof/TNBES/April 2).

58th IFAJ Congress: Networking among most valued aspects of membership

Chairperson of LOC says networking top of the list at 2017 IFAJ world congress. Photo shows agriculture journalists from Danmark and Gambia (Photo Credit: Tom Bricknell/Australia)

South Africa: Economy needs to grow fast to absorb 26 million job seekers

South Africa, an economy in dilemma (Photo Credit: M.S.Joof/TNBES/March 2017)

Award-winning Gambian Journalist Attends 2017 Master Class in South Africa

Joof interviewing a rice farmer in Salikenni, North Bank Region (Photo Credit: Mamadou Edrisa Njie/Facebook/March 2017)

Gambia: Enhancing food security will take national vision, local action

More than 170 project staff and beneficiaries taking part in the annual consultative forum (Photo credit: M.S.Joof/TNBES/Feb 2017)

For Gambia to enhance food security, strategy and implementation must be linked to attain food security and reduce poverty, the Agriculture Ministry’s permanent secretary Sait Drammeh said.

P2RS Training Rural Youth to Become Self-Reliant

Undertaking perilous journeys to Europe via deserts and high seas has been the thought of many young Gambians (male and female) – who often cite the “lack of opportunities” at home. (Photo Credit: M.E.Njie)

Alarm Bell Ringing For Women, Youth to Develop Bankable Business Plans – Agric Director

The organisers said the aim of the training is to build the entrepreneurial skills of women and young people to reduce the dependency rate and to eradicate irregular migration to Europe.

Brikamaba: Women Turn to Gardens After Failed Rice Growing Season

After a failed rice-growing season, women turn to gardens in Brikamaba, CRR (Photo by M.S. Joof/TNBES)

Some three hundred and ten women in Brikamaba, Lower Fulladu West of the Central River Region (CRR) have turned to gardening to fight off food security threats after a failed rice-growing season.

More than five hundred women and their families, 282 kilometers from the Gambian capital, Banjul, saw their rice fields completely destroyed by floods following torrential rains between July and September in 2015, the villagers told TNBES on Friday.

Agric officials charged with stealing, negligence pleads innocent

Gambia capable of producing million tonnes of rice

RICE as a staple food in Gambia is mainly imported from Asia (Photo credit: Facts and Details)

The Gambia has the potential to produce more than two million tonnes of rice yearly, it’s President and leading farmer, Yahya Jammeh has said.

Two weeks ago, Jammeh announced his government’s plan to initiate an all-year rice production scheme that could further efforts to attaining food self-sufficiency. We must feed ourselves, he said of The Gambia, which is endowed with land and fresh water.

Jammeh had since last year vowed to ban the importation of rice, a staple, into the West African country by 2016. He is touring the country on his annual ‘meet-the-people-tour’ with an idea of a “Vision 2016 Rice Self-sufficiency Agenda.”

Pres. Jammeh: We must feed ourselves

RICE as a staple food in Gambia is mainly imported from Asia (Photo credit: Facts and Details)

“We must feed ourselves,” President Yaya Jammeh said of his country, The Gambia, which is endowed with land and fresh water.

Jammeh has said his government plans to initiate an all-year round rice production scheme that could further efforts to attaining food self-sufficiency.

“The all-year-round rice production would not only ensure that there is enough food for local consumption, but surplus for export to other countries,” Mr Jammeh said in the Central River Region according to state media reports.

Jammeh to ban import of basic foods ‘without fail’

RICE as a staple food in Gambia is mainly imported from Asia (Photo credit: Facts and Details)

The President of The Gambia has said he is “determined to end importation of basic food items by 2016 without fail.”

“Our traditional Gambian dishes or foods are being replaced by unhealthy, and for most Muslims, haram junk food being imported into this country,” Yahya Jammeh said on the eve of The Gambia’s 49^th independence anniversary of February 18. “This dangerous trend must end.” 

In June 2013, President Jammeh announced his government would ban the importation of rice into the country by 2016.

The Gambia forcast economic growth at 7.5 per cent

Projection based on robust expansion of agriculture and tourism, according to Central Bank officials in Gambia. (Photo by Mansa Banko shows officials at a rice field in Central River Region of The Gambia under the Ifad-funded PIWAMP project)