Barrow Hands Over 60 Tractors to Farmers, Strengthens Gambia’s Food Sovereignty Agenda

The Gambian leader, H.E. President Adama Barrow, has boosted the country’s food sovereignty drive with the official handover of sixty (60) tractors, each with a capacity of seventy-five (75) horsepower, alongside eighteen (18) disc harrows, ten (10) tipping trailers, rotary tillers, seed drills, and planters.

The initiative, unveiled on Saturday in Banjul, is designed to ease the burden of farm mechanization and support local farmers with modern equipment at highly subsidised rates. Under the arrangement, the Government of The Gambia will cover twenty-five percent (25%) of the total cost, while beneficiary farmers or cooperatives will contribute another twenty-five percent (25%) upfront. The remaining fifty percent (50%) is to be paid over a four-year period, with the government standing as guarantor to ensure affordability and access.

President Barrow reiterated his administration’s commitment to transforming the agricultural sector into a pillar of national development. “Food sovereignty is at the heart of our development agenda. By equipping our farmers with modern machines, we are not only boosting productivity but also ensuring that The Gambia becomes more self-reliant in food production,” he said.

Over the past years, his government has invested heavily in the sector through matching grants, subsidised fertilizers, improved seeds, and farm implements to strengthen agricultural productivity nationwide. These interventions, officials say, aim to reduce dependence on food imports, increase yields, and guarantee national food security.

With the latest distribution of farm machinery, farmers across the country are optimistic that the coming farming seasons will see a rise in productivity, income, and sustainable livelihoods, thereby securing a brighter future for The Gambia’s agriculture.