At just 24 years old, Alhadgie Faal built a successful small business by turning his family’s plot of land in Kanuma, in the North Coast region of the Gambia, into a large plot of land where he grows fruits and vegetables to grow his crops. sold to restaurants and hotels.
He started his company after receiving training from the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). programme[DD1] focus on supporting women and young people, especially in rural areas.
“Before I started this business, I was a carpenter, but farming has always been my passion. Without agriculture we could not feed the whole nation and I have a dream to provide Gambia with healthy products.
About four years ago, my stepfather told me there was a free United Nations training program in agriculture, horticulture and food processing. He applied to me, and I was accepted.
The Gambian Fruit and Vegetable Garden is run by Alhadgie Faal and his brother.
Sowing business seeds
I’m really happy because we are a farmer family, little money and I won’t be able to pay the fees and transportation. But all these costs were included in the offer, so I was able to go to college.
The training session was very helpful. We learned about agronomy, how to manage crops, when to plant and how to choose the right location.
After graduating, I had the idea to start my own fruit and vegetable business. My stepmother owns some land, and she allows me and my brother to use it. The land was full of bushes back then, so my brother and I cleared the land for our garden.
At first, I faced many challenges. Anytime we plant or plant seeds, rodents will come and destroy everything. We also have to deal with termites, pests and diseases.
We finally overcame these problems. Today, we cover crops with nets to protect them from rodents, and we cover them with plastic for three to four days to generate heat, which helps deter termites.
Gambian fruit and vegetable entrepreneur, Alhadgie Faal
From chili to papaya
We grow many different crops here. We have green bell pepper, yellow pepper, papaya and strawberry.
We have been successful in selling our fruit in Banjul region. We are supplying to restaurants, hotels and some private.
Many people like our product because it is delicious. Our strawberries are big and sweet, and all of our fruits and vegetables are organic. This is important because chemicals are not good for human health or the environment.
Starting an agribusiness in the Gambia is very difficult. You have to be patient, or you won’t succeed. Transportation was an issue and expansion was complicated, because access to grants and loans was difficult. Funding is a big issue, especially for young farmers.
My advice to anyone who wants to be an entrepreneur is to focus on agriculture, to avoid importing from neighboring countries. We have land, and we can get water from the river. We have everything we need to survive.
I want Gambians to eat Gambian strawberries. People have the misconception that we don’t grow fruit here, and that’s what drives me to succeed.”
