By Haruna Kuyateh
Preparations and arrangements have been finalized for 13 young Gambians to undergo training under agricultural internship at the Ramat Negev International Training Centre for Advanced Agriculture in Israel.
The Rural Development Organization (RDO) in collaboration with Holistic Agribusiness Solution are behind the programme.
Momodou Y. Bah, Chief Executive Officer of RDO and Holistic Agribusiness Solution disclosed the development in an encounter with this reporter on Thursday. Bah highlighted the organizations’ achievements in youth agribusiness training and climate-smart agriculture.
According to him, the internship programme will provide participants with practical agricultural skills and promote knowledge-sharing in agribusiness and integrated farming.
He said that the organizations and the Israeli Embassy had signed a memorandum of understanding covering the welfare and safety of the participants.
Holistic Agribusiness Solution, with support from Germany’s Sabab Lou Foundation, provides two years of intensive agricultural training to Gambian youths to encourage the adoption of improved farming practices and increase agricultural production and productivity.
Bah said a partnership between RDO and GAMWORKS had supported 19 community gardens in the Kanifing Municipality and the West Coast, Lower River and Upper River regions. The initiative promotes climate-smart agriculture, the use of organic manure and pesticides, proper garden-bed demarcation and appropriate plant spacing.
He also disclosed that RDO had provided loans totaling to D1.26 million to 14 youths to support poultry farming and ram fattening.
Seven beneficiaries received support for poultry production, including layers and broilers, while another seven received loans for ram fattening.
According to Bah, the loans carry a flat interest rate of one per cent on the principal amount. He said a second phase would introduce a blended financing arrangement under which beneficiaries who repay 60 per cent of their loans, including applicable interest, on schedule and without default could qualify for a 40 per cent waiver, provided as a conditional grant.
Meanwhile, RDO has also supported the community of Daru Barak in Upper Badibou with the development of a one-hectare garden equipped with fencing, a borehole, 17 water taps and a 10,000-litre storage facility.
Bah said the water system had a reported daily output capacity of 65,000 litres. The project was funded by the German Embassy, which contributed 80 per cent of the cost, while the Sabab Lou Foundation provided the remaining 20 per cent.
A total of 250 gardeners benefited from training in sustainable climate-smart agriculture and livelihood development.
The garden is scheduled to be inaugurated on 30th October 2026.