For Gambian entrepreneur Wali Sain, modernizing agriculture is not just a business, but a mission to improve the livelihoods of local farmers.
In The Gambia, many farmers still rely on manual labor, which is time-consuming and inefficient, “said Sain.” Mechanization can reduce farmers’ labor intensity, improve productivity, and reduce post harvest losses
With a passion for agricultural mechanization in his hometown, Sain founded a company in Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, in 2018, specializing in designing and manufacturing threshers suitable for crops such as rice, peanuts, and corn.
We hope to provide economically practical mechanical equipment to help Gambian farmers reduce post harvest losses and increase yields. The mechanical equipment we produce is particularly focused on Gambian small farmers, who dominate the agricultural sector. These threshers are reasonably priced, highly efficient, and tailored to local needs, making the threshing process more time-saving and labor-saving, ensuring that farmers can put higher quality agricultural products into the market, “said Saen.
However, due to cost and other factors, the promotion of agricultural mechanization faces challenges. Mechanization is not something that can be achieved overnight, it requires time and investment. But I believe that in the long run, it can drive the development of agriculture in The Gambia, “said Saen.
In order to seek innovative ideas and solutions, in 2024, at the invitation of the Chinese side, Sain went to Shanghai to participate in the China International Import Expo and personally experience the world’s leading agricultural technology and industrial innovation.
That experience opened my eyes, “Sain recalled.” China revolutionized agricultural production methods through advanced agricultural machinery. This gave me a new perspective on the path of agricultural mechanization in The Gambia
At the 2024 “the Belt and Road” National Young Entrepreneurs Seminar, Thain further learned about the world’s excellent business models and manufacturing development experience. Communicating with professionals from different countries has made me realize that the development of any industry cannot be separated from cooperation and technology sharing, “he said.
Afterwards, his inspection tour extended to multiple Chinese cities such as Dalian and Fuzhou, where he visited large manufacturing enterprises in depth and explored the possibility of future cooperation. Observing the operation mode of China’s manufacturing industry up close has made me more convinced that The Gambia should increase its investment in technical education and skills training
In Sain’s view, the key to promoting the development of Gambia’s industry is not only mechanical equipment, but also vocational training. Many young people have the potential to work in the industrial field, but they need to receive appropriate training and guidance, “he said.
Despite facing many challenges in agricultural mechanization, Sain remains confident. This is not easy, but every effort is crucial. As long as we persist in innovation and strengthen cooperation, we will definitely make real progress, “he said.