GIRAV Project, Beneficiaries Hand over Sites for the Construction of 40 Model Gardens to Contractors

The Gambia Inclusive and Resilient Agricultural Value Chain Development Project GIRAV and the target beneficiaries for the 40 model Gardens to be established by the project have officially handed over the sites for the construction of the sub-projects to the contractors.

It could be recalled that the project on July 15, 2024 signed an 18 months contractual Agreements with six Gambian companies for the establishment of the gardens dubbed Women and Youth-Led Agribusiness Firms (WYLAFs).

The civil works comprises the construction of perimeter fence with chain linked wire, multi-purpose farm shed and 2 toilets equipped with running water to promote WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene). This sub-project is assigned Tabanisita Company in West Coast Region (WCR), Lower River region (LRR), North Bank Region (NBR) and Nema General Merchandize in Central River Region North (CRRN), Central River Region South (CRRS) and Upper River Region (URR).

Solo Darboe Construction Company is contracted to drill 40 bore holes and install solar and water pumping system in WCR, LRR, NBR whilst MTK Company will also drill 40 bore holes and install solar and water pumping system in CRRN, CRRS, and URR.

GAI Construction Company is contracted to install Sprinkler system in 20 gardens in WCR, LRR, CRRS/N, and NBR whilst Chino Gam will install drip system in 20 gardens in NBR, CRRSN, URR and CRRS.

Mrs. Ramatoulie Hydara Sanyang, Director of Operations, on behalf of the Project Coordinator led a multi-disciplinary team for the sites handing over from the August 1-8, 2024. The team comprising GIRAV Project personnel, Directors of Soil and Water Management Services and, Horticulture Technical Services and, the Contractors were accompanied by the Regional Agriculture Directors and Governors or their representatives to the project sites in every region. The mission also accorded the project and the regional governors the opportunity to introduce the contractors and the different sub-projects to be executed by each of them to the local community leaders and beneficiary groups.

Speaking at the various sites on behalf of the Project Coordinator and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food security, Mrs. Sanyang reminded both the contractors and the target beneficiaries of the importance of potentials of the WYLAFs towards the achievement of government priorities in food and nutrition security, women and youth empowerment and poverty reduction in a more sustainable way leaving no one behind. She explained that the project through the network of Implementing Partners will strengthen the capacities of the WYLAFs to help make them viable cooperatives that would be key players in the national economy. She therefore enjoined them to work in unison and contribute to the successful implementation of the sub-projects and on time.

Mr. Abdourahman Jobe, Director of Soil and Water Management Services and Ms. Ramata Giggo, Director of Horticulture Technical Services and the Regional Agriculture Directors all reassured the communities that respective units will provide series of trainings and technical backstopping to the WYLAFs to increase production and productivity. They too called for collaboration and support on behalf of the contractor to facilitate their work.

Speaking at Macca Farafenni, Lansarr and Dooboo, Mr. ALhagie Lamin Saidykhan, Governor, North Bank region, thanked the Government and the World Bank for the intervention. He noted that the WYLAFs initiative is in line with government policies on women and youth empowerment. He advised the target beneficiaries to take ownership of the sub-projects and cooperate with the contractors to ensure timely execution of the projects.

For their part, representatives of the 40 WYLAFs and the Village Heads all expressed gratitude to the government and the World Bank for the project. They reaffirmed their commitment to work with the contractors to implement the project. They however stressed the need for timely execution of projects as well as routine supervision to ensure quality and standard work.

Also speaking at the various sites the representatives of the six companies assured that they will measure up to expectations. They appealed for the support of the host communities to enable their workers deliver on time.