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| Kanayo F. Nwanze IFAD's President |
“Investments in smallholder agriculture
that prioritize rural people, and in particular women and youth, will be on the
top of my agenda during my discussions with country leaders in Banjul,”said
Nwanze prior to his departure. “Smallholder family agriculture can be a high-yielding, efficient and
lucrative businessas well as a dignified profession that produces food, creates
jobs, sustains families and puts countries on the road to stable, inclusive
development.”
Agriculture is an important sector of The Gambia’s
economy. It contributes up to25 per cent of GDP and provides employment and
income for 70 per cent of the country’s 2 million people.Women account for over
50 per cent of the agricultural labour force and 70 per cent of unskilled
labourers.They produce about 40 per cent of total agricultural output. IFAD’s
President, who champions gender issues and is an ardent advocate for women’s
empowerment, will pay a courtesy visit to Isatou Njie-Saidy, Vice President and
Minister of Women Affairs, to discuss rural women’s empowerment and how to
enhance their contribution to family farming as a profitable economic activity.
“Gender equality and women’s empowerment
have always been at the core of IFAD’s efforts to reduce poverty,” said Nwanze.
“Investing in rural Gambian women,so that they have equal access to economic
opportunities and services, is one of the most effective strategies for
reducing poverty and malnutrition.”
While in Banjul, Nwanze will meet with Kebba
S. Touray, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs,and Solomon Owens, Minister
of Agriculture, to discuss how targeted investments in smallholder agriculture
can raise household income levels, improve foodand nutritionsecurity and reduce
levels of poverty on a sustainable basis. He will also meet with local private
sector representatives as well as the United Nations Country Team.
During his stay in The Gambia, Nwanze will
also visit an IFAD-supported rice farm run by a women’s group in Pakalinding
village and afunctional literacy training programme for women in Sibanor to see
first-hand how participantshave improved their lives.
Since 1982, IFAD has
financed 10programmes and projects in The Gambia for a total valueof US$197.7
million, of which IFAD has contributed$73.9 million, directlybenefiting 149,200
households.
Contact:
David F. Paqui
IFAD Communications Division
In The Gambia
Cell: +220 3435841
Roaming
Cell: +393357516406
Email: d.paqui@ifad.org
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