A Game-Changer: UNIDO Constructs The Gambia’s First Onion Curing and Storage Facilities
Gambia, 18 December 2024- The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has achieved a ground-breaking milestone with the construction of The Gambia’s first onion curing and storage facilities under the national component of the West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP) funded by the European Union. This initiative addresses critical post-harvest storing challenges that have long plagued Gambian onion producers. The amenities mark the first of their kind in the country’s four-decade history of onion production.
Built in Berefet in the West Coast Region, Nanaba, and Jahuar Mandinka in the Central River Region, these modernized curing, packaging, and storage structures are expected to benefit 728 producers, including 700 women. Each facility can accommodate 20 tons of onions at a time, featuring two compartments for curing, sorting, grading, and storage. As a result, producers can now sell their onions at market-ready quality, increasing income potential and reducing losses.
“We used to store our harvested onions in rooms and under beds, with no space to cure them,” said the garden owner Ms. Kumba Jallow of Jahaur Mandinka. “Now, we can cure, sort, store, and sell at our convenience, and we expect our incomes to improve significantly.”
Complementary to the construction, UNIDO has provided producers with equipment such as pallets, sewing machines, and weighting devices, alongside training on post-harvest practices for producers across 120 gardens. During a site visit, Ms. Lumana Kamashi of the EU Delegation in The Gambia expressed delight at the completion of these facilities, highlighting their potential to boost production and enhance competitiveness. Mr. Bakary Gassama, the Director of Agriculture for the West Coast Region, emphasized that the initiative complements national efforts to improve vegetable sector quality and marketability.
The success has spurred further development, with two additional facilities under construction in Kiang Nema and Pakau Ngojum, in the Lower River and North Bank Region, respectively. “The storage facility will end the challenges we face with post-harvest losses,” said Ms. Ntai Jarju, the President of the Kiang Nema garden. UNIDO’s National Horticulture Value Chain Expert, Mr. Malamin Drammeh, called the initiative a transformative step, aligning with international standards such as the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP). “We hope other projects will emulate this model to benefit more communities,” he stated.
This pioneering project symbolizes more than just infrastructure—it is a beacon of hope for improved livelihoods, reduced waste, and sustainable onion production in The Gambia.
See the impact for local communities in this video.
About the project
As part of the West Africa Competitiveness Programme, the project aims to strengthen The Gambia’s competitiveness of accelerates its integration into the regional and international trading system. The key objective is improving the country’s performance, growth and contribution to industry, regional trade and exports of onion and other horticulture VC.
For more information, contact Mr. Bernard Bau (b.bau [at] unido.org) or Mr. Christian Lasser (c.lasser [at] unido.org)
