By: Haruna Kuyateh
Njawara Agricultural Training Centre (NATC) recently organized three days Training of Trainers (ToT) for 84 farmers on quick organic manure and bio pesticide treatment of vegetables and crops, drawn from project intervention communities.
The training is part of one year project funded by Global Environment Facility known as Rural Women Economic Empowerment and Environmental Management.
Trainers were drawn from SOLICITA market federation garden and three trainers were attached per garden. The step down training will be conducted every quarter for be a period of one year and it will contribute to strengthen human resource development.
The training was held at Njawara Agricultural Training Centre in the North Bank Region.
Mama Manneh executive director of Njawara Agricultural Training Centre stressed the significance of building farmers capacities on the preparation and treatment of quick organic manure and bio pesticide to enhance growth and development of plant.
He said the training meant to advocate non use of chemical fertilizer on crops, harness biodiversity and also ensure application of organic farming at garden and upland.
According to him, participants conducted step down training at every garden to allowed effective transferred of skills and knowledge on the important and use of organic manure and bio pesticide on vegetables.
Manneh said the capacity development will foster unity and empower women who are the principal producers of food at garden and upland farms.
He urged community trainers to be vigilant and willing to support the transfer of knowledge and skills towards promoting the use of organic manure, describing it as cost effective and environmental friendly.
Beneficiary communities includes; Saaba Lower Baddibou, Conteh Kunda Niji Upper Baddibou, Kataba of Sabach Sanjal among list of communities.
The program targeted marketing federation members on adoption of best agronomy practises and 44 affiliated garden and three gardens from upland also participated to boost food production and productivity on crops.
Babou Nyass Frontline Extension Worker noted that the capacity building would help farmers to have closer contact with community based trainers on quick organic and bio pesticide techniques to boost production of quality products.
He reiterated that more follow-up visiting and training will be provided to bridge the capacity gaps of farmers on adoption of best agronomic practises.
Abdoulie Saho a farmer from Kanuma lauded NATC for their commitment on the constant transfer of appropriate best agronomic practises to enhance skills transfer. He said the training will help farmers to promote zero use of chemical fertilizer.
Oumie Joof of Njoufen and Gijar Drammeh of Jurunku noted that the training is timely as women are now in year round vegetable production. The duo’s reiterated that chemical fertilizer is expensive and has seen it negative effects on soil and vegetables. Compost is making out of locally available materials that help to enrich the soil with the ultimate objective to realize high yield and quality products.
