Gambian Farmers Adapt to Saltwater Threats

In western Gambia, villagers of Kiang Jifarong are struggling to protect their rice fields from advancing saltwater. For generations, families cultivated rice on fertile lowlands along the Bintang Bolong estuary, relying on seasonal floods and freshwater. However, for the past decade, many villagers have retreated inland as saltwater transforms once-productive rice fields into barren land. Farmers recognize saltwater stress by the yellowing of rice leaves and the light, hollow grains that result from improper plant development. Tombong Barrow from the Kiang Jifarong village development committee notes that salt makes the grains 'useless. ' Veteran rice farmers Jonni Kinteh and Mama Njie abandoned their fields eight years ago after repeated crop failures linked to salinity. They recall farming alongside their mothers and now cannot use the fields due to saltwater intrusion.