Mr. Chairman,
The President of IFAD, H E. Mr. Nwanze,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I feel deeply honored to deliver a statement at this august gathering of the 32nd IFAD Governing Council for which my delegation is most grateful.

Having said this, please allow me to also join my colleagues in congratulating you on your well deserved election to Chair this unique Session. I have no doubt that with your leadership the Session will be crowned a success. I also wish to congratulate the newly elected President of IFAD, H.E Nwanze, and wish him luck in the management of the organization in the next coming years.

At this juncture, I wish to pay tribute to the outgoing President of IFAD, H.E Lennart Bage for his outstanding leadership of IFAD during his tenure. We wish him well in his new undertaking.

Mr. Chairman,

If you would allow me, I would like to briefly inform this meeting on how we in The Gambia are workig with IFAD and other stakeholders and develoment partners in the implementation of  our national agrcultural programme. Despite its primary role in the economy, our agriculture sector’s share in total employment, and most importantly its contribution to exports in the Gambia have been on  the decline. 

This decline is due mainly to adverse climatic conditions, low soil fertility, inadequate credit facilities to purchase inputs, reduction of international primary commodity prices and, inadequate domestic policy and institutional support services to the sector. 

Since the mid-1980s The Gambia, has been implementing economic policies favouring macroeconomic stability, market liberalization and private sector development. Now, our medium-term strategy outlined in the Second Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), is currently being implemented highlighting a dual approach: to undertake actions in the three key sectors of agriculture, health and education, and to foster macro-economic growth.

The Government of the Gambia is finalizing a comprehensive Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy with broad objectives amid significant challenges and constraints, some of the challenges being rural poverty reduction and improved household food security  through increased production and productivity. This is in line with recent pronouncements of the IFAD Transformation agenda as announced at the recent Regional Implementation workshop held in Douala, Cameroon from 18 – 19 January 2009. The Government of the Gambia is taking this very seriously.

In this regard we will  continue to emphasize the provision of an enabling environment for greater private sector participation and diversification of the production base, increasing domestic savings, stemming rural-urban migration and sustaining a healthy environment.

Mr. Chairman,

We will address the sector-wide constraints through a strategy of public and private sector partnership, expecting the private sector to assume a lead role in the provision of enterprise investment resources and entrepreneurial management.

We hope that aagricultural diversification will decrease our heavy dependence on groundnuts to rural poverty and improve food security.

There are numerous options for farmers, from cultivating lowland rice, cashews, vegetables and fruits, to raising small ruminants and poultry, and to producing other niche items such as rabbits, honey and dairy products. In particular, the development of the microfinance industry remains a high priority for government in which IFAD’s continued support is essential. It is in this regard, that our government is finalizing a National Microfinance Policy to guide the microfinance industry to achieve the desired results.

IFAD funded projects in the Gambia have become more demand-driven, increasingly developing rural poor people’s participation in planning and implementation.

For the purpose of accumulating know-how and reducing the risk of failure, IFAD-assisted projects in the Gambia provide for innovative pilot operations with potential for scaling up.

Outstanding features of pilot activity include the Village-based Savings and Credit Association (VISACA) concept, access and water management in swampland and lowland rice cultivation, and community-initiated self-help groups.

These activities were tested and adapted and have become successful models for implementation in newer projects such as the Lowlands Agricultural Development Programme and the Rural Finance and Community Initiatives Project.

Since 1982 IFAD has invested more than US$39 million directly benefiting over 70,950 households. It continues to assist in activities to strengthen farmers and community-based organizations, providing leadership and attracting co-financing, forming strategic partnerships with donors, the government, NGOs and civil society organizations.

Mr. Chairman,

The Government has recently embarked on a re-structuring of the public Agricultural System in the Gambia through the establishment of Regional Agricultural Directorates. It is expected that this re-structuring will culminate in achieving our poverty reduction objectives as well as the MDGs through a better coordination of agricultural and microfinance interventions in the Gambia.

Mr. Chairman,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

To conclude, please allow me to convey the deep appreciation of H. E. President Yahya A.J.J Jammeh, his government and the people of the Gambia to IFAD for its timely responsiveness to our priority needs in rural poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs. I am sure we will continue to count on IFAD as one of our preferred development partners to enhance our socio-economic development for the benefit of our citizens.

I thank you for your attention.