Agriculture Minister Demba Sabally has told lawmakers that a delay in paying D52 million to a tractor supplier contributed to delays in the implementation of a contract for the delivery of the agricultural machinery signed since 2024.
Responding to questions in the National Assembly on Wednesday, after NAMs questioned the status of the government’s planned procurement and distribution of 180 tractors to Gambian farmers, Sabally explained that the contract required the Ministry of Agriculture to pay 25 percent of the contract value upfront before the agreement could effectively take effect.
He admitted that the said 25 percent payment, amounting to approximately D52 million, was only paid in two installments, with 12.5 percent paid in 2025 and the remaining 12.5 percent in 2026.
“Until that money was paid, the supplier could not do anything and the contract itself cannot take effect,” Sabally told lawmakers.
However, according to the minister, that bridge has now been crossed as the supplier has now received the full 25 percent payment and that the ministry is expecting the remaining tractors to be delivered within the timeframe of the contract. He did not however specify that timeframe to the lawmakers.
“We cannot be date-specific, given the logistics involved. However, we expect them to be delivered within a reasonable timeframe,” he said.
The minister said in general some of the tractors have already been delivered and distributed, while others were at the border awaiting clearance and additional units were still on their way.
Lawmakers also sought details about the contractors responsible for supplying the tractors. The minister agreed to provide the requested information through the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly.
Sabally also defended the distribution process, saying tractor allocation is primarily demand-driven, adding that beneficiaries must apply, undergo an assessment and make the required financial commitment before delivery.
He further argued that the programme has achieved broad geographical coverage, with all regions across the country, apart from Banjul, benefiting from the tractor scheme.
