The Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security, Dr. Demba Sabally, today concluded the first leg of his nationwide project monitoring tour in the Upper River Region (URR), following three days of visits across the North Bank and Upper River Regions.
The tour aimed to assess the progress of agricultural projects, engage directly with farming communities, identify challenges, and explore practical solutions to strengthen agricultural productivity and food security.
The delegation’s first stop was the ROOTS-supported Suduwol Women’s Vegetable Garden, where community members highlighted the positive impact the garden has had on household incomes through the production of vegetables such as okra and tomatoes. The women also appealed for improved transportation and market access, particularly to Basse.
Through the ROOTS Project, the garden has been equipped with water reservoirs, an overhead water tank, perimeter fencing, a compost chamber, vegetable seeds, and garden tools. Today, the garden serves 320 registered members, including 293 women, making it a strong example of women’s economic empowerment, improved nutrition, and community resilience.
The Vice Chairperson of the National Assembly Select Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Amie Colley, encouraged the beneficiaries to protect and sustain the investment, while the Governor of the Upper River Region, Hon. Samba Bah, praised the transformation of the once bushy site into a thriving production garden. He also appealed for a tricycle to improve market access and called for the expansion of the garden to benefit more women.
ROOTS Project Director Famara Trawally reaffirmed the project’s commitment to improving farmers’ livelihoods, noting that ROOTS will continue supporting interventions that enhance production, market access, and household incomes.
Addressing the gathering, Hon. Minister Dr. Demba Sabally commended the dedication of the women and assured the community that Government would explore expanding the existing garden or establishing another to accommodate more beneficiaries. He also encouraged young people to embrace agriculture as a pathway to employment, wealth creation, and national development.
The delegation later visited the Small Ruminant Productivity Enhancement Project (SRPEP) site in Dingiri before proceeding to the GIRAV-supported vegetable garden in Badari.
The final stop of the tour was Dampha Kunda, a beneficiary community under the ROOTS Dry Season Rice Production Support Programme, which also received certified seed support from the REWARD Project. Community members expressed appreciation for the interventions and appealed for the timely implementation of the planned land development works to further boost rice production.
Responding to the request, the Honourable Minister assured the community that the land development designs have been completed and that the construction contract will soon be awarded, reaffirming Government’s commitment to investing in agricultural infrastructure, empowering farming communities, and advancing national food security.
Visit ends handing over of tricycles to beneficiaries by SRPEP at the Basse mini diary.