Horticultural export industry of The Gambia : issues affecting continued survival

This paper presents a brief profile of the industry, together with some comparisons with major competitors in the international arena. The paper addresses the following five key areas for government attention: (1) the cost of fuel, which is one of the most immediate concerns to producers; (2) limited freight availability and the cost of the freight to small producers and to new entrants into the sector, which constitutes the major factor constraining growth of the sector; (3) the lack of public postharvest facilities or support services available to private sector producers; (4) the major costs in essential irrigation infrastructure development facing Gambian producers; and (5) the need for vigorous government support for attracting foreign investment into the industry and integrating domestic outgrowers with these export operations.