The west African nation of Gambia is working with the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) to improve its agriculture sector, particularly the production of its main export, groundnuts. Lamin Kaba Bajo, Gambia’s Minister of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, said, “We have seen developments and achievements in Malaysia’s agriculture sector, and African countries can tap into the abundance of knowledge here.” Groundnut production accounts for 6.9 percent of the GDP for Gambia. According to Mardi director-general Datuk Dr Abd Shukor Abd Rahman, “What we have done, so far, is to generate more frontier technologies. Now, we are developing bio-pesticides and bio-fertilisers which are more environment-friendly,” adding that it is important to emphasize new technologies in the agriculture sector in order to become more competitive. “We must make a quantum leap in technologies like nanotechnology, biotechnology, and also in mechanisation and automation to improve more yields,” he said. Malaysia, said Shukor, could play a lead role in collaboration by licensing its technologies to Africa.
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