From Advocacy to Action: How a National Agroecology Forum Is Driving Support for Gambian Farmers

ActionAid International The Gambia’s advocacy for agroecology is helping push sustainable farming higher on the national agenda, with the Government of The Gambia now securing 10,000 metric tonnes of organic fertiliser for free distribution to farmers nationwide.

For smallholder farmers across The Gambia, the rising cost of agricultural inputs has become a major barrier to productive farming. At the same time, declining soil fertility, unpredictable rainfall and climate change are putting increasing pressure on agricultural production.

Against this backdrop, ActionAid International The Gambia, together with partners, convened the National Forum on Agroecology on 30 October 2025 under the theme “Transforming Agriculture, Building Resilience, and Restoring Ecosystems.”

The forum brought together government, civil society, private sector and development actors to promote agroecology as a pathway to food sovereignty, climate resilience, environmental restoration and stronger livelihoods.

At the forum, then Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Demba Sabally, recognised the importance of organic fertiliser and pledged that the government, through his ministry, would procure organic fertiliser and make it available to farmers.

That commitment has now translated into action.

A promise becomes a national investment

The Government of The Gambia, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security, has secured 10,000 metric tonnes of organic fertiliser, equivalent to approximately 46,000 bags, for free nationwide distribution during the farming season.

The fertiliser is provided to farmers at no cost, helping reduce the financial burden of agricultural production while supporting efforts to improve soil health and strengthen agricultural productivity.

The procurement forms part of a broader D1.6 billion government investment in agricultural inputs for the farming season, demonstrating a significant public commitment to supporting farmers and strengthening the country’s agricultural sector.

For ActionAid, the development demonstrates why advocacy and dialogue matter.

The National Forum created a space where farmers’ realities, sustainable agricultural solutions and policy priorities could be brought together. The government’s subsequent action shows how such spaces can help move important commitments from discussion towards implementation.

The government’s investment in organic fertiliser also responds directly to one of the key messages emerging from the forum: that sustainable agriculture requires greater investment in locally appropriate and environmentally responsible inputs.

ActionAid Executive Director Ndella Faye-Colley emphasised during the forum that agroecology is not simply a farming technique but an approach that puts people, nature and sustainability at the centre.

“Agroecology is a transformative approach that builds the resilience of smallholder farmers, especially women and youth, while reclaiming control over local food systems, promoting social justice, and protecting biodiversity.”

Organic fertiliser can contribute to this vision by supporting healthier soils while providing farmers with an alternative to costly external inputs.

For smallholder farmers, access to affordable inputs can mean the difference between being able to cultivate their land effectively and leaving part of it unused.

The impact of this commitment could extend well beyond the current farming season.

By making organic fertiliser available free of charge, the government is reducing one of the financial barriers facing farmers while supporting a more sustainable approach to agricultural production.

The investment also creates an opportunity to strengthen farmers’ knowledge of organic fertiliser use and agroecological practices, ensuring that access to inputs is complemented by the skills needed to use them effectively.

For women and young farmers, who often face greater barriers to productive resources, ensuring equitable access to agricultural support will be particularly important.

The journey from the National Forum to the government’s procurement of organic fertiliser offers an important lesson: advocacy is most powerful when dialogue leads to action.

AAITG and its partners brought together diverse voices to call attention to the need for sustainable, inclusive and climate-resilient agriculture. The government responded with a concrete investment that has the potential to reach farmers across the country.

But the work does not end with procurement.

AAITG’s continued role is to ensure that commitments translate into meaningful benefits for farming communities, particularly women, youth and smallholder farmers. Equitable distribution, transparency, farmer participation and continued investment in agroecological practices will be essential to sustaining the gains.

The 10,000 metric tonnes of organic fertiliser therefore represents more than 46,000 bags of agricultural input.

It is a tangible example of how advocacy can influence action—and a step towards a food system in which farmers have the resources, knowledge and support they need to build resilient livelihoods while protecting the land for future generations.