Farmers Receive 60 Tractors Under Joint Government–Yonna Agribusiness Partnership
By Makutu Manneh
President Adama Barrow on Saturday handed over 60 tractors to Gambian farmers as part of a joint financing scheme involving the Government of The Gambia, farming communities, and Yonna Agribusiness, a subsidiary of the Yonna Group.
The initiative, launched at the State House in Banjul, marks the first phase of a larger package of 180 tractors and implements being procured by the Ministry of Agriculture to modernize farming and promote national food self-sufficiency.
Under the financing model, the government contributes 25 percent of the total cost, while individual farmers or farming groups provide another 25 percent. The remaining 50 percent is financed by Yonna Microfinance, to be repaid over four years, with the government acting as guarantor.
President Barrow described the initiative as a demonstration of his government’s commitment to transforming agriculture into a modern, mechanized, and business-oriented sector. He noted that improving agricultural productivity is critical for feeding the country’s growing population, creating jobs for young people, and reducing reliance on imported food.
“These tractors are not gifts. They are instruments of growth, procured within the framework of shared responsibility for service and maximum productivity,” he said. The President warned that any breach of contractual agreements could result in the withdrawal of equipment or other corrective measures.
He further urged the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Security to ensure transparency and efficiency in managing the program. “Continue to monitor, evaluate, and support the beneficiaries so that they utilize the machinery and equipment at their disposal to meaningfully transform their lives,” he advised.
Muhammad Manjang, Board Chairman of the Yonna Group, reiterated the company’s commitment to national development, pledging that Yonna Agribusiness would provide training and timely maintenance services to guarantee sustainability. “This initiative exemplifies genuine public-private partnership. Yonna Group is not merely a supplier; we are co-investors in the Gambia’s agricultural transformation,” he said.
Representing the beneficiaries, farmer Alhagie Ceesay expressed gratitude to the government and its partners, stressing that responsible management of the scheme could one day enable The Gambia to produce surplus food for export. “The beneficiaries should take good care of the tractors as you can see they are new,” he reminded fellow farmers.
Despite its vast arable land, The Gambia remains heavily dependent on food imports. The partnership between the government, farmers, and Yonna Agribusiness seeks to change this trajectory by laying the foundation for a more self-sufficient and productive agricultural sector.