His Excellency President Adama Barrow today visited the ROOTS Project Land Development Site in Genieri, Kiang East District, Lower River Region (LRR), where significant progress is being registered under the Project’s ongoing land development programme.
The President was accompanied by the Honourable Dr. Demba Sabally, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security, alongside senior government officials and other dignitaries.
The visit provided an opportunity for His Excellency to observe firsthand the progress of the cascaded dykes and micro-catchment irrigation development works, designed to improve agricultural productivity (Rice production), strengthen climate resilience and enhance the livelihoods of smallholder farming communities.
The Genieri site covers 30.36 hectares and has reached 95% overall completion. Key infrastructure includes 2.643 km of dykes, a 942-metre access road, a primary spillway, seven secondary spillways and a culvert gate. The access road, spillways, culvert gate and dykes have all reached 100% completion, while rip-rap protection stands at 75%.
The development is expected to directly benefit 244 people, including 195 women and 49 men, from a community of 630 people and 77 households.
The Genieri intervention forms part of Lot 1 of the ROOTS Land Development Works, covering eight sites across the Lower River, West Coast and North Bank Regions, with a combined area of 388 hectares.
The Presidential visit underscores the Government of The Gambia’s commitment to transforming agriculture through investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, increased production and productivity, and improved livelihoods for rural communities, particularly women and smallholder farmers.
ROOTS is Building resilience, transforming agriculture and improving rural livelihoods.