We are starting the new rice project. Two pieces of agricultural land, near the Gambia river, are being prepared and planted with climate-resistant rice.

We are really still in the early stages of the test and we are keeping the investment in this phase limited. The aim is initially to see whether this can be self-sufficient in the long term, which is essential for us. More news about this later. We hope that in the long term we will also succeed in making a positive contribution with this project.

The work on the new school in Fufor is progressing well thanks to the enthusiastic help from the entire village. The walls are ready to place the roof trusses.

Our fifth installation of this year will be in Faraba Bantang. Again 8000 L of storage, a pump powered by 5 solar panels, 1500 m of water pipes and 15 taps in public places.

A new water installation for Faraba Sutu Village. Our fourth installation this year. This is now our new standard: 8000 L storage, a pump powered by 5 solar panels, 1500 m water pipe and 15 taps on public places.

Rice is the most important staple food in Gambia. Upstream, along the Gambia River, there are many opportunities to grow rice.

In the past, this was also done extensively. Today, rice production has fallen significantly. Foreign investors have left, rice varieties that are not adapted to the climate were used and there are often not the right or sufficient technologies and mechanizations available. Gambia now imports expensive rice, more than 80% of its consumption, and leaves a lot of potential for its own rice production untapped.

Together with a few young Gambian entrepreneurs, Gammol wants to investigate how we can increase local rice production.

Rijstvelden langs de Gambia rivier

This year we want to install a new school in Fufor. We provide 6 classrooms, a classroom for the teachers and sanitary facilities.

Fuffor is a village in the south of Gambia near the Senegalese border. Last year we installed a water installation. During a visit this year we were amazed at the approach and the dynamics in the village. And the village itself also took action to build the school. Preparing the site, making concrete blocks, digging foundations. This village wants to move forward!

In March, Dirk Depoorter, Dirk Fannes and Hedwig Theunis went on a mission to Gambia. Together with the Gammol team, they want to evaluate operations in Gambia, visit projects from the past year, prepare new projects, make agreements with local authorities and local suppliers. Dirk Depoorter made a travel report.

You can find a detailed report here: Gammol > How we work > Travel reports

We are finishing the water installation of Banyaka New Town. Two 4000 liter barrels, solar panels, 1500 m of pipes through the village, 15 taps, the tower painted. The village has clean water!

Also this year, two Flemish students will go on an internship in Gambia for three months. Joke and Myrthe's first lesson is over. It is an English lesson about the different parts of the body.

You can follow them here: Blog Joke en Myrthe 

The tower in Banyaka New Town stands. We will complete the installation as soon as the trenches for the pipes have been dug. This is a job that the residents of the village do themselves.

 

Banyaka is located about ten kilometers north of Sanyang, our home base, and a little further east. It is a densely populated municipality with 9,000 inhabitants. Here we are installing two separate water installations: in Banyaka Gidda and Banyaka New Town. Both have a double tower with 2 tanks of 4000 liters, 15 taps and 1500 m of pipes.

 

 Banyaka Gidda

The Fuffor water installation is ready and will supply water to about 3,000 people.

After Jamwelly, our next large water installation will be located in Fuffor. Here too, there are two 4000 liter tanks on a 6.5 m high tower. The extra tower and water tank make the installation approximately 10% more expensive. We will have a lot of extra capacity for this.