By: Haruna Kuyateh
Njawara Agricultural Training Centre (NATC) and Action Aid International The Gambia (AAITG) have disbursed D1, 056,000 000 to vulnerable farmers in North Bank Region to address food security and irregular migration at Njawara Agricultural Training Centre in the north bank region on 31st , 2019.
European Union funded project Promoting Agro Ecology and Eco Restoration Practices to strengthen vulnerable smallholder farmers to address food security and irregular migration.
The project continue to benefit poor smallholder farmers, who doesn’t have the mean to have draught animals, shine hoe, seeder and improve seed and as result contribute to late planting and low productivity.
Mama Manneh, Director of Njawara Agricultural Training Centre NATC has underscored the important to support smallholder farmers with draught animals, farm implement and improve seed to enhance timely planting and promote resilience building.
He noted that the support is part of European Union funding package through partnership with Action Aid International the Gambia three years project dubbed Promoting Agro Ecology and Eco Restoration Practices of strengthen vulnerable smallholder farmers to address food security and irregular migration.
He challenges beneficiaries farmer to use the money for it purpose and assured of center commitment to monitoring of fund provided.
Foday Kanyi Program Specialist Resilience, Livelihoods and Climate Justice at Action Aid International the Gambia said the project value working with communities on the application of a tool Participatory Vulnerability Assessment (PVA) on the selection criteria of most vulnerable farmers within the communities.
The project according to Kanyi of Action Aid noted that it focused on Contributing to job creation and food security through Agro Ecology and Resilience to building to mitigate against irregular migration for women and youths. Climate Resilient Sustainable Agriculture (CRSA) a Solution to smallholder farmer’s problems.
He disclosed that the support target 10 Communities of Njawara intervention areas the project provided each farmer D32, 000 and all aimed to ensure farmers have the capacity to increase production.
Chief Fabala Fadia Kinteh of Lower Baddibou, and Acting chief of Jokadou, Alh. Saku Gaye hailed Njawara Training Centre and Action Aid International the Gambia for their immense contribution to food security, capacity development of women and youths to adopt best practice and diversification.
Meta Barrow Physically Challenge from Baddibou Gunjur noted that the support will serve as income and to be self-reliance.
Isatou Njie of Kerr Jarga said the support is timely as lack of draught animal, farm implements contribute to late planting.
He noted that the overall project cost is 824, 000 Euro equivalent to D40million targeting for CRR and NBR. The duration of project is from 01st August 2018 to 31st July 2021.