About 1.4 billion people still living in abject poverty globally

About 1.4 billion people still live in abject poverty despite the numerous national and global efforts during the past years on the first target of the Millennium Development Goals, which aims at reducing extreme poverty by one-half by the year 2015, country representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in The Gambia said

According to Dr Babagana Ahmadu as at 2011, the poorest 40 per cent of the world's population accounted for five per cent of total global income while the richest 20 per cent accounted for three-quarters of the world's income.

The FAO country rep was speaking on Thursday at the end of a three-day workshop marking the official launching of the International Fund for Agricultural Development-funded project - National Agricultural Land and Water Management Development.

Furthermore, he said, rural areas account for three in every four people living on less than US$1 a day and similar share of the world population suffering from malnutrition.  

He emphasised the need for efforts to be accelerated in the poverty reduction strides, pointing out that poverty remains a predominantly rural problem, as the majority of the world's poor are located in rural areas.

It is estimated that 76 per cent of the developing world's poor live in rural areas.

According to Dr Ahmadu, disparities between rural and urban areas are on the rise, particularly in many developing and transitional countries.

Globally, rural people and rural places tend to be disadvantaged relative to their urban counterparts, whilst poverty rates increase as rural areas become more remote.

People living in the rural areas tend to have less access to social services, exacerbating the effects of rural poverty.

IFAD spent over US$53 million in Gambia, benefiting over 126,000 people

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has provided financing for nine projects and programmes in The Gambia amounting to US$53.7 million directly benefiting over 126,000 rural households in the country.

IFAD is operating in The Gambia since 1982 providing support and assistance to rural farmers.

Speaking at the 7th Regional Forum for IFAD-funded Projects held in Gambia at the Kairaba Beach Hotel in Kololi from 12th to 15th November 2012, the Minister of Agriculture, Solomon Owens, said IFAD is currently supporting three major projects in The Gambia, namely: the Participatory Integrated Watershed Development Project (PIWAMP), the Livestock and Horticulture Development Project (LHDP), and the Rural Finance Project (RFP).

“These three on-going projects are all focusing on increasing agricultural production and productivity while increasing incomes of rural women and youth through appropriate land and water management technologies; improved vegetable and livestock schemes; and enhanced access to much needed financial support respectively,” Mr Owens said. 

He pointed out that the performance and impact of these projects have so far been impressive.

According to him, PIWAMP data indicate that with the project’s interventions, over 34,000 hectares of land are under crop cultivation benefiting almost 80,000 rural farmers of which 53% are women.  Through RFP support to over 60 Village Savings and Credit Associations (VISACAs) more than 32,000 rural poor people, about 40% women, are benefiting from the VISACA services.  And thorough LHDP support, 18 hectares of fodders fields have been established, directly benefiting about 1,200 small ruminant owners, 98% being women.

PIWAMP rated on top for wonderful performance

The Participatory Integrated Watershed Management Project (PIWAMP), a project that continues to positively touch the lives of thousands of Gambian households particularly those in rural areas, has been top rated for its wonderful performances, achievements and financial managements.

The project is ranked fourth in the 2011 Fiduciary Ratings of the top ten IFAD supported projects in West and Central Africa.  The IFAD’s Fiduciary Ratings compares the total financial investment of a project against it achievements.  PIWAMP is rated fourth best performing project among 45 IFAD - International Fund for Agricultural Development - supported projects in West and Central Africa, as end of June 2012. 

This was announced at Financial Management training workshop held in Rome, Italy in August 2012.  

Mr. Momodou Gassama, project coordinator of PIWAMP, said:  “This is the first time PIWAMP is ranked among the top ten best performing projects in West and Central Africa.” 

Gambia to benefit from $14mn IFAD project to boost incomes of women, young farmers

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), following request of The Gambia government, is developing a new agricultural project dubbed ‘the National Agricultural Land and Water Management Development (ALAWAMDEP)’ to the tune of fourteen million U.S dollars aim at increasing food security and raise income of smallholders especially women and youths.

The main objective of the ALAWAMDEP is to improve rice and vegetable productivity through land and water management practices taking into account the value chain.  The project will target all the six agricultural regional directorates, nationwide, focusing on women and youth.

IFAD mission team, led by IFAD Country Programme Manager for The Gambia, Mr. Moses Abukari, has recently completed participatory and consultative visits countrywide in order to have first hand information about the current ongoing IFAD projects in the country so as to build on that experience in the new project.