The Gambia government has announced plans to stop the importation of onions to encourage commercial gardening and help local onion producers.

“The government is ready to make sure there will be a moratorium so that there will be no onion importation at the time,” Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Fatou Kinteh told journalists at a press conference last week. 

“It will also promote commercial farming in the country, whenever the women know that there are business people who are ready to buy more local products they will cultivate large scale,” she added.

According to her, commercial agriculture will also provide employment and enhance economic empowerment for women and young people as well as ensure food  security in the society.

Meanwhile, she called on all business people to support and empower the local producers, “especially the women to ensure they produce more foods in the country”.

She assured the visiting women gardeners that the government is committed to addressing their challenges and put in place measures that will benefit them and the country.  

Reporting by Adama Makasuba