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Geography, agriculture One of Africa’s smallest countries, the Gambia is a flat, elongated finger of territory that has an average width of only 30 km. It extends from the Atlantic coast for about 375 km, entirely surrounded on land by Senegal’s territory. The Gambia occupies the Gambia River’s flood plain, which is flanked by low hills. The country has an area of about 11,300 km2 and a population of about 1.5 million (UN, 2005), which makes it one of the most densely populated countries in Africa. The climate is tropical, with annual dry and rainy seasons. Rainfall has decreased by about 30 per cent over the last three decades, contributing to deterioration of the country’s already limited resource base. Population pressure and cultivation of marginal lands is aggravating the problems of poor-quality soil and declining soil fertility. The Gambia has experienced rapid population growth over the last two decades. When the country became independent, the population was estimated at 325,000; by 1973 the population had grown to 493,499 and by 1983 was 687,817. Over the period from 1983 to 1993, the population growth rate was 4.2 per cent, one of the highest in the subregion. Population density increased from 64 to 97 persons per km2. The causes of population growth are high fertility rates (mainly a result of early marriage, teenage pregnancies and low levels of contraceptive use) and immigration. Age distribution of the population is skewed towards the younger age groups. Those aged 0-15 years comprise 45 per cent of the male population and 44 per cent of the female population. Population distribution differs little across poverty groups. Agriculture The agricultural sector provides employment for almost 70 per cent of the labour force and in 2004 accounted for more than 30 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). Land is predominantly communally owned and is controlled mainly by men. It is held in trust for the villages by district councils. The head of the village allocates plots for cultivation. The basic farming unit is the compound, which includes an average of about 15 people who are usually members of the same family. The women of the compound grow rice, cultivate vegetables and raise livestock on a small scale. Men cultivate coarse grains, groundnuts and other crops in the uplands. Only about one sixth of the land is arable, and soil quality is poor. Farmers cultivate about 55 per cent of the total arable land area. Poor farmers produce rainfed subsistence crops. Almost all farmers cultivate groundnuts, both for food and for cash. Groundnuts are the country’s main cash and export crop. Rice is a staple food, but farmers do not produce enough rice to meet domestic requirements. Food imports weighs heavily on the balance of payments. The agricultural sector includes commercial horticultural farms and women’s groups with small plots producing vegetables for regional and export markets. In 2002 poor rains reduced agricultural production, slashing the groundnut harvest in half and cutting production of other crops by about one third. Recovery in agriculture benefited from a good harvest in crop year 2004/05 because of good rains, an increase in planted hectares and successful expansion of non-traditional crops. Poor rains at the start of the 2005/06 growing season were expected to hurt early crop production. Erosion and soil degradation caused by drought and declining rainfall, together with overfarming, overstocking, and increased demand for firewood seriously affect the country’s resource base. More than 90 per cent of farmers have sheep and goats, and virtually all of them have poultry. Livestock are largely allowed to graze uncontrolled, which contributes to degradation of vegetation. Economy The Gambia is one of the poorest countries in the world. Although the former British colony experienced long periods of stability after it became independent in 1965, stability has not brought prosperity. Gross national income per capita in 2004 was estimated at US$290. Groundnuts are the Gambia’s chief cash and export crop, but production is subject to climatic variations and prices are subject to market variations. Poverty in the Gambia grew during the 1990s as a result of economic shocks such as devaluation in Senegal, falling groundnut prices and a military coup in 1994. Uncertain prospects in the agricultural sector, attributable in part to decreasing rainfall and drought, check economic growth. Reliance on groundnuts makes farmers vulnerable to fluctuating market prices. Growing incidences of malaria and HIV/AIDS have an adverse effect on the country’s economic development, as productive members of society succumb to illness. Source: IFAD |
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