[{"bbox": [96, 91, 1134, 199], "category": "Text", "text": "hand/buckets. Only the commercial farms are equipped with deep boreholes and sprinkler-irrigation systems. Trickle irrigation has been tried occasionally on an experimental basis, but is not in commercial use. Production practices are highly labour-intensive. Land preparation and cultivation of vegetables is done entirely by hand, using small hand hoes."}, {"bbox": [96, 223, 1121, 251], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## Problem 5: Lack of green skills development to support a sustainable increase in agri-food systems productivity"}, {"bbox": [96, 276, 1136, 596], "category": "Text", "text": "In The Gambia, there is a pressing need to continue addressing the shortfall in skills and skills development among farmers, especially those engaged in pioneering agri-food value chains focused on agro-ecology and climate-smart agriculture. The integration of these sustainable practices is crucial for enhancing the resilience of agricultural systems to climate change, improving the quality of production and improving food security. However, there is an increasing awareness of technical knowledge and practical skills in these areas hampers the ability of farmers to effectively implement and benefit from such approaches. By continuing strengthening the capacity of farmers on green skills and circular business models in agri-food systems, The Gambia can equip them with the competencies required to implement innovative agricultural practices, thus fulfilling the objective of developing sustainable and productive agri-food systems and at the same time increasing productivity without decreasing the health of ecosystems, biodiversity or climate change resilience. This support is essential for the country to deliver on its goals and enhance its agricultural productivity sustainably since the share of horticulture in overall agricultural production has been growing in recent years."}, {"bbox": [96, 620, 649, 648], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## Problem 6: Nutrition insecurity and lack of dietary diversity"}, {"bbox": [96, 673, 1136, 887], "category": "Text", "text": "In 2021, The Gambia ranked 72 out of 116 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI). With a score of 17.6, The Gambia has a moderate level of hunger. According to the Global Nutrition Report (The Gambia Nutrition Profile, 2018), The Gambia was significantly below African and global average consumption levels. The high level of malnutrition in rural communities continues to be a public health concern. The higher stunting rate is attributable to the high level of poverty (above 70% in some local government areas and there is a relative high prevalence of micronutrient deficiency in rural communities in The Gambia. Vitamin A deficiency at 18.3% is twice as high among children from rural areas as those from urban centres. Very high rates of iron deficiency anaemia are found in children aged 6–59 months and women of reproductive age (15–45 years)."}, {"bbox": [96, 912, 1136, 1047], "category": "Text", "text": "Most households (>90%) source their food from the market and are experiencing substantial increases in food prices (cereals, fish and meat) as evidenced by sharp increases of the Food Consumer Price Index (CPI), which has more than doubled since 2010. The high prices of animal proteins and the high share of food (>50%) in household expenditure are key reasons why Gambian diets are primarily based on carbohydrates, principally imported, highly polished rice."}, {"bbox": [96, 1071, 1136, 1335], "category": "Text", "text": "The Gambia's food and nutritional security is dependent on food imports, which exposes the country's food system to external shocks. Food imports constitute around 30% of merchandise imports, making a huge drain on foreign exchange resources, being rice the main staple and accounting for most of these imports. Given The Gambia's dependence on food imports, changes in exchange rates generate impacts that are substantial higher than the repercussions of retail pricing. The behaviour of profit-seeking traders is another factor in the price rise. The price set by importers is at times almost 50% higher than the economic cost. Over 80% of rice, a major staple food in The Gambia, is imported. The preference for rice is driven by its availability in processed form, relative cheapness, ease of preparation and short time to cook compared to coarse grains and other foods. However, the traditional method of rice meal preparation results in further loss of nutrients, including thiamine, due to the several washings involved."}, {"bbox": [96, 1362, 1136, 1551], "category": "Text", "text": "The Gambia's food supply is produced in countries similarly vulnerable to climate change, which also has severe implications for food availability, affordability, and consumption, intensifying nutritional challenges. In the absence of adaptation and resilience options, adverse climate conditions will continue to widen yield gaps, exacerbate crop losses, and increase dependency on imports, further threatening the food security of The Gambia. Without adopting climate resilience options, adverse climate conditions will continue to decrease yields and reduce production, widening the gap in food supply, decreasing The Gambia's food self-sufficiency and increasing its dependency."}, {"bbox": [96, 1575, 1136, 1656], "category": "Text", "text": "By focusing on nutrition-sensitive value chain development, the action will improve food security and nutritional outcomes and investments will lead to quality food consumption. A large proportion of households consume cereal-based diets with inadequate inclusion of proteins, vitamins and minerals; and, hence, enjoy low dietary"}, {"bbox": [1037, 1681, 1145, 1707], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 9 of 30"}]