Gambia bets on seed infrastructure to strengthen food security and protect more than 67,000 farmers

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AfDB-backed $17.5 million programme targets climate resilience, agricultural productivity and rural incomes across five farming communities

BANJUL, The Gambia — As climate change continues to disrupt agricultural production across the Sahel, The Gambia is moving forward with a strategic investment aimed at strengthening food security through the rehabilitation and expansion of community seed storage facilities.

The initiative forms part of the second phase of the Programme to Strengthen Resilience to Food and Nutrition Insecurity in the Sahel (P2-P2RS), financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) through a US$17.5 million grant. The programme is expected to directly benefit approximately 67,200 people across four agricultural regions and support value chains linked to rice, maize, Findi, vegetable production and small livestock farming.

The project comes at a critical moment for The Gambia, where agriculture contributes approximately 25% of GDP, employs around 70% of the labour force, and remains the primary source of income for most rural households. Yet the sector continues to face mounting pressure from climate shocks, limited infrastructure, post-harvest losses and restricted access to quality inputs.

A Quiet battle against post-harvest losses

For many African economies, food security is often associated with increasing production. However, agricultural experts increasingly argue that reducing post-harvest losses may generate equally significant gains.

According to the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), existing community seed stores in Kerewan Samba Sira, Niani Sukuta, Banjulinding, Jenoi and Sinchu Alagie suffer from deterioration, pest infestations, water infiltration and inadequate storage conditions. These weaknesses contribute to seed spoilage, lower yields and higher production costs for farming households.

Project assessments indicate that without rehabilitation, farmers would remain dependent on expensive external seed purchases while continuing to face losses caused by poor storage infrastructure. Such a scenario would disproportionately affect women and youth farmers, who are among the most vulnerable groups within the rural economy.

In a country where agriculture remains highly dependent on rainfall and climate conditions, preserving seed quality is increasingly viewed as a strategic investment in national resilience rather than merely an agricultural intervention.

Climate adaptation through infrastructure

The project aligns with broader continental efforts to build climate resilience across the Sahel, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions.

The rehabilitated facilities will incorporate improved ventilation systems, elevated flooring, rodent-proof access points and enhanced moisture control mechanisms. These upgrades are expected to significantly reduce seed losses while extending storage life and preserving genetic quality.

Solar energy has been identified as the preferred power source for the facilities, reflecting growing efforts to integrate renewable energy solutions into rural infrastructure development.

The investment also supports one of the AfDB’s core priorities: increasing agricultural productivity while improving communities’ ability to adapt to climate-related risks.

Women and youth at the centre of rural development

Beyond infrastructure, the programme aims to generate broader socio-economic benefits.

The project places particular emphasis on women and young people, groups that often experience higher levels of unemployment and economic vulnerability across rural Africa. Women already account for approximately 54% of primary agricultural producers in The Gambia and play a dominant role in horticulture, seed cleaning, food processing and small-scale agribusiness activities.

Community consultations conducted during the ESIA process revealed overwhelming support for the project. Survey results showed that 100% of respondents believed the rehabilitation programme would positively affect their livelihoods, while 98% highlighted income generation and improved seed preservation as major benefits.

The initiative is also expected to create temporary construction jobs, strengthen local skills and improve community ownership through participatory management structures.

Managing environmental and social risks

The National Environment Agency (NEA) classified the project as Category B, equivalent to Category 2 under the AfDB Integrated Safeguards System, indicating moderate environmental and social risks that can be effectively managed through mitigation measures.

Potential impacts identified include dust emissions, construction waste generation, temporary pressure on local water resources, occupational health and safety risks, labour influx challenges and risks related to gender-based violence and social exclusion.

To address these concerns, the project includes a comprehensive Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP)with an estimated implementation budget of US$88,000. The plan covers environmental monitoring, occupational safety, waste management, grievance mechanisms, community engagement and gender protection measures.

An additional US$28,000 has been allocated specifically for environmental and social monitoring activities throughout implementation.

Food security as an economic growth strategy

The broader significance of the project extends beyond seed storage.

The Gambia’s population currently stands at approximately 2.42 million people, with agriculture remaining the backbone of rural livelihoods. In communities targeted by the programme, farming participation rates exceed 78%, reaching as high as 91.6% in some districts.

Against this backdrop, improving seed preservation could have a multiplier effect across agricultural value chains, boosting productivity, reducing input costs and improving household food security.

For policymakers, the initiative highlights a growing recognition that investments in agricultural infrastructure may deliver returns comparable to those generated by larger transport and energy projects, particularly in economies where farming remains a dominant source of employment.

The hidden infrastructure of food security

Across Africa, large-scale infrastructure projects such as ports, highways and rail corridors often dominate investment headlines. Yet some of the continent’s most consequential development investments remain relatively invisible.

Seed storage facilities rarely attract international attention. However, they represent a critical link between one harvest and the next. Without reliable seed preservation systems, gains in agricultural productivity can quickly be lost.

The Gambian initiative demonstrates how targeted investments in agricultural resilience can produce significant economic and social returns. If successfully implemented, the project could become a model for similar interventions across the Sahel, where climate adaptation is increasingly becoming a prerequisite for long-term economic development rather than simply an environmental objective.