Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

Benefiting from its introduction of Gambia’s first centre pivot irrigation system, B&W is continuing to tap into previously underdeveloped agricultural markets and is even being courted by the president of Africa’s smallest mainland country.

B&W was established in Gambia a year ago by Gordon Brett, who runs Aqua Farms Co Ltd in Lakenheath.

Aqua has been supporting B&W financially, but with the proposed implementation of another 16 such irrigation systems in Gambia over the next 18 months, B&W should soon become self-reliant.

Brett said: “Gambia imports 95 per cent of its vegetables and gets its chicken feed from Senegal. Holland imports sub-standard vegetables at 10 times UK prices.

“We can produce corn 12 months a year instead of just one. Production will at least double in 12 months when we introduce pivot number two and we have financing for another 15.

“We currently concentrate on potatoes and onions and are the largest producers of iceberg lettuce in the country and Gambia’s second largest employers.

“President Dr Alhaji Jammeh has also asked for three pivot systems for his 5,000 hectares of land, which he wants us to manage.”