Page 32 - UN Gambia 2020 CCA stakeholder consultations report

3 Agriculture Agriculture was identified as a good conduit for economic transformation in The Gambia.

However, for it to play this role, it must be modernized and diversified across all sub-sectors with a

view to reducing its dependence on groundnut and rice production which have been prioritized for

decades with meagre returns on the substantial investments

Economic transformation also calls for a shift from subsistence farming to commercial

agriculture with emphasis on value addition. Proper packaging of crops and horticultural produce as

well as the establishment of processing plants for the processing of animal products such as cheese,

cream, milk and meat were recommended.

It was further recommended that diversification of agriculture needs to be focused on cash crops

and products with high yields / return based on The Gambia’s factor endowment.

4 Sectorial Participants highlighted the limited linkages between different sectors of the economy. The

linkages poor linkages between the agriculture and tourism sectors was cited as an example. In spite of demand

for products that are locally available, the majority of products consumed at hotels are imported.

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