Gambia: Enhancing Value Addition in the Groundnut Sector Project
by Market Insider
Tuesday, 03 Jun. 2014
The Government of the Republic of The
Gambia has secured 28.00 million US$ from the Islamic Development Bank in the
form of loan and Istisna'a financing for the project Enhancing Value
Addition in the Groundnut Sector. Additional 2 million US$ are provided
by the government as counterpart funding. The Ministry of Finance and Economic
Affairs through the Gambia Groundnut Corporation (GGC) is the Executing Agency
of the Project. The project will be implemented by GGC through the Gambian
Agency for the Management of Public Works - (GAMWORKS).
The main
objective of the project is to contribute towards the development of the
Gambian groundnut sector, thus enhancing its contribution to economic growth,
poverty reduction and economic stability. The specific objective of the
Project is to modernize, expand and improve the efficiency of the Gambia
Groundnut Corporation, allowing it to be able to maintain its market shares,
position itself in the high end of the groundnut value-chain to enhance its
profitability, and preserve and increase the income of 70% of the rural
population engaged in groundnut production.
The project
comprises the following eight components: (i) Improving GGC processing
infrastructure; (ii) improving river transport system for groundnut; (iii)
improving groundnut storage, unloading and handling infrastructure; (iv)
groundnut shells waste management; (v) improving quality testing systems; (vi)
technical assistance for supporting groundnut value chain; (vii) project
management and supervision activities; (viii) financial audit.
The
project should provide for the provision and installation of a 350 tons/day
shelling unit, a 300 tons/day crushing unit and a 50 tons/day new briquetting
plant at GGC premises, along with supply of spare parts for 2 years and 4
routine maintenance semi-annual check -ups by the suppliers. The existing
non-functional cogeneration power plant at GGC premises should be rehabilitated
and expanded. Funding should cover also the dismantling of old units, site
cleaning activities and civil foundation works. Meanwhile, storage bins and
staff quarters of GGC located across the country should be rehabilitated.
Ten 200 tons dummy barges and one 350 HP tugboat should be
provided to GGC, along with 2 years spare parts and 4 routine maintenance
check-ups. The project should also cover the construction of a 200 tons slip
way along with necessary workshop equipment, and provide for industrial
groundnut handling equipment including weigh bridges and transport equipment
(bobcats, tractors with trailers), the replacement of screens, conveyors, and
the construction of reception points.
The existing
quality control laboratory should be improved through the supply of ELISA test
kits (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay), pneumatic moisture testing equipment
and sampling tools, and the provision of necessary training of quality control
inspectors and depot staff.
Source:The general procurement
notice is accessible on GAMWORKS site at http://gamworks.gm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=80:gamworks-enhancing-value-addition-in-the-groundnut-sector-project-&catid=5:current-projects&Itemid=22