The Gambia, in West Africa, might experience a drop in production this season for small-scale farmers, as well as a delay in the start of the vegetable season. This is according to Sang Mendy, owner of SanTaZ Gambia, who links the expected drop to climate change and irregular rainfall, as well as unpredictable rainfall patterns.
Mendy says: "Under normal circumstances, we'd be at the peak of the rain season, but there's not enough rain yet. Gambian farmers used to enjoy heavy rains in August, but it seems that the situation has shifted to September, which most of us are not used to."
In addition to unpredictable rainfall, excessive heat waves during the dry season exacerbate the situation, scorching plants, according to Mendy. He adds: "Investing in greenhouses or even shades for crops remains an unattainable project for small-scale farmers because of the high costs. So we have to convert to alternative crops that can withstand the new weather patterns. Until now, I've grown peppers, garden eggs, carrots, sweet potatoes, and cassava for the local market, but this is becoming increasingly difficult."
In Mendy's case, the troubles don't stop there: "I lost a borehole pump and a solar panel to thieves. It happened in August, just when the rains were failing. I lost a large part of my vegetable plants for the coming season because of this".
The grower regrets, "The Gambia has great Agricultural prospects thanks to soil quality and the Gambia River. However, with climate change, we small-scale farmers need support to transition to greenhouse farming. We need greenhouses, irrigation equipment, and bank loans. Local market supply depends on it."
For more information:
Sang Mendy
SanTaZ
Tel : +220 789 3861
Email : [email protected]