Thumbnail Image

Geospatial Solutions for Sustainable Agriculture in the Gambia - UTF/GAM/047/GAM

Year of publication 2025

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 2

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Project

Synopsis (short abstract) The Gambia, the smallest country in mainland Africa, faces significant development challenges, including food insecurity, malnutrition, migration, unemployment and climate change. With a rapidly growing population of 2.1 million, of which 62 percent live in poverty and 48 percent below the USD 1.25 per day threshold, agriculture remains the primary livelihood for 70 percent of the population, though it contributes only 24 percent to the gross domestic product. Low agricultural productivity, particularly in rain-fed systems, exacerbates rural poverty and food insecurity. The country is highly vulnerable to climate change, experiencing severe saltwater intrusion into lowland floodplains and recurrent droughts that have significantly reduced agricultural yields. Rising sea levels and declining rainfall have further intensified these challenges, necessitating stronger agricultural interventions. To address these issues, the Government of the Gambia, in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), launched the Resilience of Organizations for Transformative Smallholder Agriculture Project (ROOTS). The GTA project, implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was designed to enhance technical capacities in geospatial technologies to support capacity development, monitoring and evaluation of the ROOTS initiative.

Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Project
    Enhancing Sustainable Growth in the Gambia’s Agricultural Sector - GCP/GAM/040/EC 2024
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    The Gambia is a small country in West Africa, with an agrarian economy and a large, youthful population. The country’s economy relies mainly on agriculture, which is concentrated in the rural areas. However, despite its potential for inclusive growth, improved food security and poverty reduction, the agriculture sector is affected by numerous constraints. Among these are weak research and extension systems leading to inappropriate/unsustainable farming practices and pest control, low yields, limited arable land irrigation, inadequate storage facilities and other infrastructures, lack of entrepreneurial culture, and a low level of vulnerable smallholder producers’ participation in value chains and end markets. These constraints are exacerbated by extreme weather conditions and erratic rainfall and prolonged dry seasons, negatively impacting the country’s economy and well-being. In response to these challenges, this European Union-funded project aimed at contributing to inclusive and equitable sustainable growth in the country’s agriculture sector, and to reducing food insecurity and malnutrition to mitigate migration flows to Europe.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Project
    Building Capacities and Facilitating Enabling Environment for Contract Farming in Lesotho - TCP/LES/3801 2024
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    A vast majority of Lesotho’s population resides in rural areas and a large proportion of these rural dwellers depend on agriculture and remittances from migrant labourers for their livelihoods. Employment opportunities in South Africa and Lesotho’s urban centres have declined because of stagnating economic growth. The impact of COVID-19 has worsened the situation. Remittances as one of the key pillars for the rural economy have been seriously weakened. The focus is now shifting to agriculture to fill the void. Unfortunately, the performance and output of the agricultural sector has been disappointingly low, thus making those who depend on it vulnerable to poverty and food insecurity. These challenges notwithstanding, the Government of Lesotho considers agriculture as a priority sector for job creation and economic growth. The current medium-term planning framework (National Strategic Development Plan) has prioritized agriculture alongside manufacturing, tourism and creative industries as key growth generators and is advocating for increased public and private sector investment.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Project
    Making Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries More Sustainable and Resilient through Use of Nature-Based Solutions - GCP/GLO/436/IRE 2024
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    Nature based solutions (NBS) in agriculture and food systems encompass people centred and regenerative approaches targeted at restoring, sustainably managing and conserving the natural capital needed to buffer food systems and the livelihoods dependent upon them against shocks and crises, while supporting the achievement of sustainable development, climate and biodiversity goals. Considering the potential benefits to be derived from their application, a concerted effort is needed to scale up and optimize the use of NBS, integrating them into wider food system risk management, development and climate action strategies, such as disaster risk reduction, adaptation and mitigation. To support countries in optimizing the use of agricultural NBS, the project supported the development of a multidisciplinary diagnostic, planning and monitoring framework for investments at local and national levels. The tool aims to support countries to conduct better landscape planning and to mainstream issues of natural capital, ecosystem services and biodiversity into planning and investment decision making.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.