DDF Fellowship Summary

DDF Project Title: Horticultural Business Development
DDF Fellow Reference Number: DDF64
Fellow's Diaspora Country: Sweden
Partner in The Gambia: Queen Farms
Geographical Coverage: Rural
Initial Project Period: April 2026 – July 2026
Main Project Results: To be updated

Challenges and Opportunities

The project served as a significant learning curve for Bintou Ann. Key challenges, such as land acquisition and pest control, were successfully managed. The most promising opportunity identified is the shifting perception among young people, who are increasingly viewing gardening as a viable livelihood. This is coupled with the potential to expand market access to neighbouring countries like Senegal.

Bintou Ann’s plans are focused on scaling the project’s impact. This includes training more women and youth groups and establishing a cross-border trade partnership with Senegal. To improve the DDF scheme, she recommends including more agricultural fellows to boost national food security and improving communication between the DDF and its fellows.

Bintou Ann

DDF64

About The Project

This project details the work of Diaspora Fellow Bintou Ann, who undertook a comprehensive agricultural development project in The Gambia. The initiative focused on establishing a commercial garden, engaging the local community, and promoting farming as a viable economic opportunity, particularly for women and youth. The project successfully combined personal investment, diaspora funding, and strategic partnerships to create tangible outputs and lasting impact.

Key Activities Undertaken

Infrastructure Development: Establishing the core garden infrastructure, including fencing, land preparation, and a standard irrigation system.
Community Engagement: Directly involving the community in farm management and vegetable farming practices.
Training and Education: Conducting training for women and youth groups and engaging with local schools to develop school gardens.
Advocacy: Using social media to sensitise the public about farming, share experiences, and generate interest.

Outputs and Impact

The project yielded significant quantitative and qualitative results, demonstrating a clear return on investment.
This included an increase in the land size under cultivation, leading to a rise in crop yield.
Provided direct training to 36 individuals (10 Female and 26 Male).
Created employment for two young people.
Conducted sensitisation tours for two local schools (Somita LBS and Sibanor LBS), with the latter attracting 12 attendees.
Provided crucial mentoring to young people and women on modern farming best practices.
Maximised crop yield and equipped youths with marketable skills.
Grew a substantial social media following, with many followers expressing appreciation and a growing interest in agriculture.

DDF Results and Impact

Mentorship: Mentored young people and women on farming best practices, building local agricultural knowledge and skills.
Maximised Crop Yield: Improved productivity and trained youths, contributing to food production and economic empowerment.
Social Media Growth: Grew a significant following on social media, with many followers appreciating the shared content and developing a growing interest in farming.
Became a member of the Gambia Master Farmers Club.
Boosted social media followers to over 20,000 across different platforms.
In the process of partnering with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education for the 2027 school feeding program.