The agricultural sector accounts for 30% of gross domestic product (GDP) in The Gambia, employs 44% of the country’s workforce and provides an estimated two-thirds of households’ income. The sector is characterized by subsistence production of rain-fed crops, semi-intensive cash crop production and rangelands. Predictions for West Africa in 2020 are for potential reductions in yields of 50% from rain-fed agriculture without adaptation, due to both climate and non-climate stressors. Rangeland vegetative cover is predicted to diminish by mid-century due to temperature and moisture envelopes being exceeded. The disappearance of freshwater swamps and soil salinization in lowland areas resulting from sea level rise is likely to impact negatively on agricultural production. Transboundary issues that may be intensified by climate change include the spread of animal diseases, land degradation and pollution, food contamination, and natural resource management jurisdictional challenges.  

This section provides insights into the climate change impacts on agricultural productivity indicators and the trends in agriculture related socio-economic indicators.