Despite substantial fluctuations in yearly spending patterns, agricultural research spending in The Gambia rose by 25 percent during 2008–2011, primarily due to increased donor funding.
As of 2011, only 9 percent of the country’s agricultural researchers were qualified to the PhD degree level. This share is one of the lowest among African countries and is of concern given that a critical mass of PhD-qualified researchers is necessary to ensure the quality and effectiveness of research.
The country’s agricultural R&D investment as a share of agricultural GDP increased during 2008–2011 as a result of higher agricultural R&D spending combined with declining agricultural GDP levels.
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