Why we do This
Our mission is to create new possibilities in farming
Thousands of young Gambians are selling their land to migrate to Europe because they see no future for themselves at home. Traditional farming is back-breaking work with little financial return. We want to change that. Through a new approach to farming, we aim to show the next generation that agriculture can be profitable—and that there is opportunity and dignity in staying and building a future in The Gambia.
Every year, around 10,000 young Gambians migrate to Europe. Some make the journey by boat, while others pay large sums to smugglers to be taken across the desert. Many of these migrants are young people who face extreme danger, and too often lose their lives along the way. This is not only devastating for their families, but also for The Gambia itself. Year after year, the country is losing its young, talented people to migration. People that are actually needed to build up this country.
The only way to stop this is to create real opportunities for young people at home.
The solution lies in agriculture—but it must change. Conventional farming methods are not resilient to climate change. Farmers risk losing their harvest every season because they depend heavily on rainy seasons. Rainfall is becoming scarcer and more unpredictable, while soil quality is rapidly declining due to the excessive use of pesticides.
If we don’t change anything, the Gambia will turn into desert. We have to create a way of farming that is climate-change proof and generates lots of food and jobs.
Creating new farmland often requires clearing large areas of forest, either by burning or by cutting down trees. By producing more food on less land, we can help reduce deforestation caused by agricultural expansion. Many very old trees have been cut in the last twenty years. The loss of large trees has a significant impact on local groundwater levels. In almost all parts of the Gambia groundwater levels have become dangerously low.
Over the past two decades, the country has experienced a consistent decline in groundwater levels. Deforestation is a major contributing factor, along with the overuse of water for agricultural irrigation. But also climate-change causes this. Less rain means less water in the well.
It is clear that climate-change is hitting hard right now and it won’t take long before we experience the first failed harvest all through the country. This will result in hunger and more food insecurity which eventually results in more people migrating. Climate refugees.
If we change the current way of farming into our farming method, we can prevent hunger from striking the Gambia in the coming years. This method is the best solution to provide food security and help small communities to develop themselves into farmers that know how to deal with climate-change.
That one idea that could change everything
To change all this we want to introduce our new way of farming into the Gambia based on the principles of aquaponics. It is a closed system in which you can grow fish and plants together. Perfectly suitable for growing food in dry areas. The only problem is that the current aquaponics systems are using expensive filter systems. In our concept we replaced these filters by sand. We developed an easy system that is affordable, climate-change proof and generates lots of food! This method of farming will change the life of people.
The ocean once provided affordable fish for everyone in The Gambia. But as we speak today, overfishing has pushed prices so high that the poorest communities can no longer afford it. As a result, fewer people (especially pregnant mothers) have access to essential nutrients like omega-3, which are critical for healthy brain development in newborns.
Overfishing has become a severe crisis in The Gambia. With little control over its seas, foreign fishing vessels continue to plunder fish stocks daily. The processing of juvenile fish by Chinese factories, due to the shortage of adult fish, is accelerating the collapse of Gambian fisheries. Fish is now almost out of reach for the poorest people, with the price of one kilogram being eight times higher than in 2008.
Shocking image: Inside the Chinese fishmeal factory in Kartong, the Gambia. All this fish is used to feed the pigs in China, instead of feeding Gambians.
Watch our overfishing documentary
Project founders Kevin and Musa produced a short documentary exposing the fishmeal factory in Kartong, The Gambia—an example of what overfishing truly looks like. A Chinese company arrived in this village promising jobs and development, but what followed was environmental devastation and corruption. Years later, the factory is still operating, and nothing has changed.
“In 2012, I kayaked along the River Gambia with two Gambian friends. During that journey, we came face to face with many of the challenges The Gambia is facing today. We saw widespread deforestation, forest fires, and the damaging impact of current farming practices on the land. We spoke with young people who felt they had no future left in their country—many of whom later became close friends. The situation in The Gambia is alarming. With the ReFarm Africa project, we believe we have a powerful tool to address illegal migration at its roots. This project aims to inspire young people to choose farming—but to do it differently. By showing that this new approach to agriculture can generate real income and long-term opportunities in the Gambia. We hope to offer youth a future they can build at home”
Founders of this foundation Kevin & Musa were one of the first people to kayak river Gambia. This book is a report about this journey. Kevin wrote a book about the Gambia Expedition.
ReFarm Africa | Sustainable Farming Innovations
Pioneering Techniques for Climate-change proof farming
Aquaponics
Aquaponics combines aquaculture and plant production into a single system, where fish and plants mutually benefit through improved nutrient cycling and sustainable growth.
Sandponics
Sandponics utilizes sand as a growing medium, offering a cost-effective and efficient solution for arid regions. This new technique reduces water usage while maximizing crop yield.
Resource Efficiency
Our methods prioritize the use of local resources, minimizing waste and reducing dependency on external inputs, making farming more accessible and sustainable.
Community Empowerment
By providing training and resources, we enable communities to establish their own farms, fostering economic growth and self-sufficiency.
Environmental Impact
This new farming method significantly lower the carbon footprint of farming operations, promoting a greener and more sustainable future.
Economic Opportunities
This project creates job opportunities and supports local businesses, helping to build resilient micro-economies in West Africa. We are convinced that this project is the best tool we have to fight illegal migration.
Help us to create the Farm of the Future
Be part of a groundbreaking initiative that empowers communities through sustainable farming. Support us in transforming lives and fostering economic growth in West Africa.