The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has delivered Agro meteorological tools and studio equipment valued at 5.2 Dalasis to five community radio stations in The Gambia.

Development Diaries reports that the donation, according to FAO, will help to monitor data and effectively disseminate critical weather-related information to boost sustainable agriculture.

It is understood that the intervention is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change Project (AACCG).

Climate change and variability constitute a significant burden on The Gambia’s food systems.

This is due to the negative impact that climate and environmental shocks can have along the value chain by inhibiting production, constraining processing and transportation, increasing trade deficits, lowering export prices and, thus, limiting the participation of food system actors.

The 2011 and 2014 droughts in The Gambia led to a 50 percent drop in crop output while the 2016 short rainy season led to a drop in crop production, boosting food price inflation and affecting children’s nutrition as well as access to basic social services.

During the handing over of the tools, FAO’s Assistant Country Representative, Mustapha Ceesay, said the equipment would be of help in data monitoring efforts.

‘The agro-met tools will benefit resource-poor upland farmers and communities improve natural and climate-related disaster risk readiness’, he said.

‘Positive results are achieved when weather and climate information are made available to farmers and the public domain in a timely and efficient manner.

‘It also increases farm information and helps agricultural crop yields and reduce risks and risk-associated costs emanating from prolonged dry spells, droughts, floods, and other climate change-induced disasters’.

With the increasing impact of climate change in The Gambia, the importance of providing timely and accurate weather and climate data is critical for all Gambians.

Photo source: Project