The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security, Dr Demba Sabally, has successfully 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 was designed to assess the progress of ongoing agricultural projects, engage directly with farming communities, identify challenges, and explore practical solutions to strengthen productivity and food security.
At the ROOTS-supported Suduwol Women’s Vegetable Garden, community members highlighted the positive impact of the initiative on household incomes through the cultivation of vegetables such as okra and tomatoes. The women appealed for improved transportation and market access, particularly to Basse.
Equipped with water reservoirs, an overhead tank, perimeter fencing, a compost chamber, vegetable seeds, and garden tools, the garden now serves 320 registered members – 293 of whom are women. It stands as 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, urged beneficiaries to safeguard the investment, while the Governor of URR, Hon. Samba Bah, praised the transformation of the site and appealed for a tricycle to ease market access. He also 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.
Minister 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 further encouraged young people to embrace agriculture as a pathway to employment, wealth creation, and national development.
The delegation also visited the Small Ruminant Productivity Enhancement Project (SRPEP) site in Dingiri and the GIRAV-supported vegetable garden in Badari.
The final stop 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 timely implementation of planned land development works to further boost rice production.
Responding to the request, Minister Sabally assured the community that land development designs have been completed and that the construction contract will soon be awarded. He reaffirmed Government’s commitment to investing in agricultural infrastructure, empowering farming communities, and advancing national food security.
