Agriculture Ministry Signs $13.93 Million in Contracts to Expand Rice Production in URR

By Makutu Manneh

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Security has signed contracts worth $13.93 million to expand irrigation infrastructure and rice production in six communities in the Upper River Region as part of a broader effort to strengthen food security in The Gambia.

The contracts, awarded through the ROOTS Project, will finance the development and rehabilitation of about 685 hectares of rice fields in Kossemar, Sotuma, Changally, Basse, Koina, and Keneba, the ministry said in a statement.

The work falls under the project’s Lot 2 Pump Irrigation Intervention and is expected to be completed within 12 months.

According to the ministry, the project is intended to give farmers more reliable access to irrigation and improve water management, potentially allowing them to cultivate rice twice a year and increase overall production.

Heilongjiang Yiha Highway Engineering Co. Ltd. was awarded contracts for work in Kossemar, Sotuma, Changally, and Basse, while Xinjiang Changlong Construction Co. Ltd. will carry out the projects in Koina and Keneba.

The planned work includes land preparation and earthworks, improvements to access routes, construction of pumping facilities, and the installation of pumps, pipelines, irrigation, and drainage systems.

The contracts also cover testing and commissioning of the infrastructure, training for operators, and the eventual handover of the completed facilities, according to the ministry.

Officials said the investment is expected to enable farmers to make more productive use of available land and water resources while supporting the government’s efforts to increase domestic rice production and reduce pressure on the country’s food supply.

The project comes as The Gambia continues efforts to expand local agricultural production and strengthen the resilience of farming communities, with irrigation considered particularly important for reducing farmers’ dependence on seasonal rainfall.