Nelson Manneh

Story: The women in Faraba-Sutu abandoned their fertile wetlands due to intrusion of salt water into the swamplands ('Faros'). Faraba-Sutu is located in Kombo East District, West Coast Region of The Gambia. The village is located along the Trans Gambia highway, south bank of The Gambia. This article "Salt water intrusion wreaks havoc in Faraba- Sutu Rice Fields," describes the devastation of rice paddies in the Gambian village of Faraba-Sutu. The intrusion of salt water has destroyed rice crops, reduced soil fertility, and severely affected the livelihoods of local farmers, forcing women to abandon the wetlands. A key cause is a damaged bridge that was meant to keep river water out of the wetlands. A locally constructed replacement proved inadequate and failed, allowing salt water to intrude. Climate change is a major contributing factor, causing rising sea levels and altered weather patterns in The Gambia. Decreased and erratic rainfall shortens the wet season and lowers the freshwater flow in the River Gambia. This reduces the river's ability to push back against the incoming salty ocean tides, allowing them to advance further inland and for longer periods. The extremely flat, low-lying coastal geography of The Gambia makes it vulnerable to the tidal movements of the Atlantic Ocean and accelerates the intrusion of salt water far upriver. Salt water has killed rice plants in the fields, destroying a once-promising harvest and rendering the wetlands unproductive. Rice cultivation is a primary livelihood for many in the community, and the loss of crops has created economic hardship and threatened food security. The influx of salt has made the wetland soil infertile, rendering it unsuitable for growing rice.

Published in: October 15, 2025