By: Modou Touray
The Soil Solution, a leading advocate for Sustainable Soil Management, with support from the GROUP OF TWENTY (G20) Global Land Initiative (which is a coalition of 19 countries and the European Union), is set to embark on a land restoration project across various regions in The Gambia.
The project which is worth above One Million (1million) Dalasis, is aimed at improving the immediate condition of agricultural soils in The Gambia, with a special focus on areas where groundnut (peanut) is a staple crop.
The Executive Director of The Soil Solution, Ebrima Jarra, said the initiative will not only improve soil fertility and support biodiversity but would also go a long way in empowering local communities and fostering climate resilience while reviving lands to achieve sustainability.
“This prestigious G20 Global Land Initiative grant will spearhead a groundbreaking project in The Gambia to restore acidic lands using sustainable circular agricultural methods,” he said.
Jarra said that the project will take a circular economy approach of using organic and locally available materials to advance circular agricultural solutions. “This project stands as a testament to the power of innovative community-driven solutions in addressing environmental challenges and promoting the achievement of sustainable development”, he added.
The project will offer a range of significant environmental benefits, which include improving farmland soil pH. Thus addressing immediate issues like soil acidity and fertility while also contributing to broader environmental goals such as biodiversity conservation, sustainable waste management, water conservation, and climate change resilience.
These benefits will not only improve the immediate agricultural landscape but also contribute to the overall health and sustainability of the environment in The Gambia, and potentially serve as a model for similar environments globally.
