The Gambia's agriculture ministry handed 12 tractors to farmers at Yundum under its mechanization program, following an earlier batch of 25, Agriculture Minister Demba Sabally said, The Point reported on November 9. The government and beneficiaries each contribute 25%, and the remaining 50% is paid in monthly installments over four years, he said.
Analysis: The 37 tractors handed over so far are about a fifth of the 180 in the government's 2024 supply contract, by our calculation, assuming both batches belong to it. Deliveries slowed because the 25% advance of about 52mn GMD (€0.61mn) was paid in two installments, in 2025 and 2026, the minister told lawmakers in October. Farmers now share the upfront payment with the state and pay half the price in monthly installments, a model adopted after some beneficiaries of a 2020 scheme failed to repay, a regional agriculture director said. No date has been set for delivering the remaining 143 tractors.
Source: The Point newspaper (Banjul), The Point, 'Agric Ministry hands over 12 tractors to farmers under mechanisation programme', November 9, 2026, Ceremony on Friday before November 9, 2026 (likely November 6) and Before November 2026 and Over four years from delivery; The Standard newspaper, The Standard, October 22, 2026 (National Assembly questions), Contract signed 2024; The Standard newspaper, Agriculture Minister Demba Sabally's answers in the National Assembly, October 21, 2026, as reported by The Standard (October 22, 2026), Paid 2025-2026 (contract signed 2024); Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG), Central Bank of The Gambia homepage, Daily Valuation Rates as at November 10, 2026, November 10, 2026