By Modou Kanteh
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has donated 30 tablets to the Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources to support data collection in the fisheries sector.
The handover took place on Monday, 11 May 2026, at the ministry’s offices on Marina Parade in Banjul. The devices will be used by extension workers of the Department of Fisheries to improve the collection, processing and management of fisheries data nationwide.
Permanent Secretary at the ministry, Buba Sanyang, described the donation as timely, noting that it would enhance the work of extension officers. He said accurate data collection is critical to national development, particularly in fisheries, which contributes to food security, employment and economic growth.
He added that the use of digital tools would improve efficiency and reduce errors associated with manual data entry, while also strengthening monitoring and reporting systems.
According to officials, the tablets are expected to support faster and more reliable field data collection, improving planning and decision-making in the sector.
The FAO said the support forms part of ongoing efforts to modernise agricultural and fisheries systems in The Gambia and strengthen institutional capacity for sustainable resource management.
The ceremony was attended by officials from the Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources and representatives of the FAO.