1. Rice Situation in The Gambia
CARD 2nd Group Countries NRDS Development Regional Workshop
Cotonou, Benin July, 2010
Presented by Alphu Jain Marong

2. Introduction Agriculture employs approximately 70% of the population
Contributes about 30% of the GDP
About 25% of GDP and 90% of domestic
export earnings derived from agriculture

3. Importance of Rice in The Gambia
Rice is the staple in The Gambia
66% of income is spent on food
83.2% of Cereal and Cereal products is rice
Rice development agenda is high-lighted in the following national documents
PRSP I&II, GNAIP, Vision 2020
- These documents emphasize transforming The Gambia into an exported-oriented agriculture

4. Rice Production Systems
Predominantly rainfed
85.8% of total hectarage
57.8% of total paddy production
Ecologies
Upland (pure rainfed)
Hydromorphics (Bantafaros)
Freshwater tidal swamps
Mangrove tidal swamps
Water controlled irrigated swamps
Improved freshwater tidal
Low-lift pump irrigation

5. Rice Map of The Gambia Freshwater Irrigated swamps
Upland / Hydromorpic
Mangrove swamps
Rice Map of The Gambia

6. Total Rice production and Demand
Population: 1.8 million
Per capitata consumption: kg
Demand: 211,194 MT (milled rice)
Production: 22,980 MT (milled rice)
% Self sufficiency: 11%
Deficit: 89%
With emphasis on irrigation, with just 20,000ha under intensification and improved productivity, 68% of national demand can be achieved

7. Major Constraints to Sustainable Increased Rice Production
Climatic/Environmental Constraints
The adverse effects of climate change
(The Gambia is located in the Sahel, the most vulnerable region to drought in the world)
Soil degradation
Socio-Economic Constraints
Lack of ready access to inputs and farm implements
Lack of remunerating marketing channels

8. National Policies and Strategies for Sustainable Increased Rice Production
Short-term Strategies
Intensive promotion of the NERICAs
Improved seed production
Medium and Long-term Strategies
Improve national capacity (human resource and infrastructure)
Increase current manpower by 20% per annum up to 2018:
Rice Agronomist (6), Seed technologist (2), Post-harvest specialists (1), Agricultural mechanics (2), Research technicians (9), Extension (3)

9. Conclusion
The priority agro-ecology for achieving increased rice production is irrigated.
Largely unexploited vast fertile lowland swamps along the river Gambia
Abundant surface water for year round irrigation within the freshwater zone of the river
A semi-arid tropical climatic with high solar radiation
A growing season of normally 365 days
The development and expansion of improved irrigation infrastructure, and a commercially-managed agricultural production management system, emphasizing value-chain approach, would enhance sustainable increased rice production and productivity