By: Haruna Kuyateh
Njawara Agricultural Training Center (NATC) in partnership with Action Aid International Gambia and with funding from European Union trained youths and women on project in promoting agro ecology and eco restoration practices in NBR and CRR South called Climate Resilience and Sustainable Agriculture CRSA.
The project aims at creating jobs for youths and women to enhance food and nutrition security and reduce migration. Farmers were trained on farming system, integrated pest management, preservation through agro biodiversity and sustainable water management.
Mama Manneh executive director of Njawara Agricultural Training Center, speaking at the end of three days training workshop for 40 smallholder farmers from Jokadou and Baddibou, underscored the significant and important of building and creating awareness on climate resilience and sustainable agriculture in enhancing food security and mitigating the effects of climate change and it contribution to poverty reduction.
He called on farmers to adopt best agricultural practices and promote the use of effective management through adoption of compost making.
Manneh hailed the partnership between his organization and Action Aid International Gambia in creating awareness on agro ecology practices to enhanced resilient building.
Foday Kanyi programme officer Action Aid International Gambia, Juffureh office of Upper Nuimi said climate resilient sustainable agriculture CRSA will improve effective water management and soil conservation practises to boost food production and productivity.
He also said that it will promote gender equity and women’s’ rights, adding that CRSA objective is to create jobs for youths and women, food and nutrition security and reduce migration.
The rationale of CRSA includes long term changes in the patterns of temperature and precipitation, shifted production seasons, significant reductions in soil productivity, loss of soil organic matter and low levels of biological activity.
It also includes new patterns of pest and disease incidences, desertification, water scarcity and pollution and loss of wetlands and Loss of wildlife habitat.
However, it was believe that Livelihood diversification in food production is crucial as it encourage adopting mixed/multi cropping to reduce the risk of crop failure and improve yields to gain extra household income and to improve dietary balance and nutrition.
Meanwhile, agroforestry introduction of multipurpose trees, integrating trees with crops, grass and vegetables and reduce erosion, improve soil fertility, to increase and diversify household income and the amount of food available, reduce the stress and improve the wellbeing of livestock – free, natural movement and appropriate shelter
Amie Bah of Yallal Tankonjala said the training enable participants to learnt new skill on compost making, important of tree planting in mitigating climate change.
She calls on farming population to be proactive to adopt sustainable soil conservation practises through compost making.