US$7M agro project for Kombo East

In its drive to make achieve food self-sufficiency, the government of The Gambia recently leased a 200 hectares of the 265 hectares land located between the villages of Kuloro and Pirang in the Kombo East, for a US$7 million investment by MAKFOOD Company.

The land was leased to the Gambia Investment Promotion and Free Zones Agency (GIPFZA), with capital investment by Al Kharafi Company and Farm Frites, a Dutch company to embark on a major agricultural project similar to Kharafi’s Farm at Kafuta Village.

The three partners, last week, held a sensitisation meeting at the Offices of the WR Governor, for the opinion leaders of Kuloro and Pirang villages on the benefits of the project to the people of the area and The Gambia as a whole.

In his welcoming remarks, Abdou FM Badjie, the governor of Western Region, described the project as a milestone development in his region and urged those whose lands were taken to exercise patience, as the project will yield benefits for the good of the people.

Alhaji Basiru Jarju, the chief of Kombo East, expressed alluded that the project will go a long way in providing job opportunities for the youth of Kombo East. He added that the project is in line with President Jammeh’s aim to make The Gambia a food self-sufficiency nation.

Chief Jarju further underscored that the government will not entertain anyone who tries to be an obstacle to development.

For his part, Mohamed Nagaty, the area manager of Kharafi Company, highlighted the company’s numerous interventions around the world, ranging from road construction, agriculture, amongst others.

According to Mr Nagaty, the Kuloro-Pirang farm is a US$7 million project, where a variety of will be cultivated at a large scale. Nagaty revealed that MAKFOOD will build a modern irrigation system at the farm, which will be powered by generators to ensure non-interrupted power supply and proper storage for the products.

He noted that the aim of the project is to supply food to the whole of The Gambia. "All the employment opportunities will be mainly centred in Kombo East, where people will be trained on how to nurse or plant seeds," he noted.

Kebba Njie, the executive director of GIPFZA, described the project as crucial to the people of Kombo East, especially Kuloro and Pirang. He noted that Gambians must now work to export their products rather than importing products from other countries.

He then called on the landowners to consent to the government’s verdict of leasing their lands to the investors noting that this will in turn immensely benefit them.

Yaya Pito Kassama, the director of Free Zones, called on the Gambian population to close ranks in the interest of development. He urged investors and relevant stakeholders to take the project with care and never let it fail.

Lamin M Bojang, NAM for Kombo East, implored the council of elders of the area to be steadfast in safe guiding the project. He reminded the landowners that the government did not sell the land to the investors, noting that it was merely leased for development.

He then urged the government and the investors to compensate the landowners, adding that the employment of the youth of the area should be their top priority.

Other speakers at the occasion included Duta Fofana, the Alkalo of Pirang Village, Salifu Saidy, the Alkalo of Kuloro, and Malain Touray, the Alkalo of Pirang Berending, who all welcomed the project.