The Gambia Armed Forces has commenced the nationwide distribution of homegrown rice to battalions, units, and formations following a directive from Chief of Defence Staff Lieutenant General Mamat O.A. Cham.

The exercise, coordinated by the GAF Directorate of Agric Task Force, fulfills a commitment made by the CDS during his nationwide tour of military installations in 2025, where he pledged to improve troop welfare through practical and sustainable initiatives.

During the tour, Lieutenant General Cham assured soldiers that rice cultivated by the GAF Agric Task Force would be distributed across military barracks and formations as part of efforts to strengthen food security and promote self-reliance within the Armed Forces.

The latest distribution marks the implementation of that promise and highlights the military’s growing investment in agriculture as a means of supporting operational welfare and reducing dependence on external food supplies.

Military officials say the initiative is intended not only to support personnel and their families but also to encourage productivity and sustainability within the institution. The rice being distributed was produced through GAF-led agricultural activities carried out by the Agric Task Force.

The programme forms part of broader efforts by the Armed Forces leadership to improve the living conditions of troops while promoting agricultural development within the institution.

Observers said the initiative reflects an increasing focus on welfare-driven policies under the current military leadership, particularly in areas linked to food production and self-sufficiency.

The GAF has in recent years expanded its participation in agricultural activities, with officials describing the sector as an important component of national development and institutional resilience.

The distribution exercise is expected to continue across different military installations nationwide in the coming days as personnel receive allocations of the locally produced rice.