By: Haruna Kuyateh
Njawara Agricultural Training Centre with support from International Trade Centre, United Nation Capital Development Fund UNCDFand YEP Through EU fund launched Job Skills and Finance program.
The project is 90 days training on Climate Smart Agriculture target 40particpants women and youths.
The program was launched at Njawara Agricultural Training Centre and they are the implementing institution to provide training for women and youths drawn from North Bank and Lower River Regions.
The program would empower youths to create employment opportunities and be Job creators. Training focus on poultry, horticulture, livestock, agroforestry and business plan development.
Mama Manneh Director of Njawara Agricultural Training Centre underscored the centre commitment of transferring appropriate skills and knowledge on climate smart agriculture to help trainees to acquire skills that would enable them to become productive citizens in promoting production and self-reliant.
Kebba Secka from Jobe Skill and Finance of ITC said that the program would help youths and women to learn new skills and knowledge on agriculture and in particular on climate smart agriculture.
He revealed that upon completion of 90 days training, participants would have the opportunity to tap D250, 000 agro enterprise grant among others provided by European Union through ITC and YEP.
He said the support would help to create jobs and reduce dependency and also address irregular migration.
“Farming should be perceived by many as business and therefore acquiring skills would contribute to adopt best agronomic practices and encourage use of organic farming,” he said urging participants to make best use of the opportunities provided and add valve to form farmers’ cooperative to increase production and marketing of farm produce.
Lamin Ceesay, NBR Youths office in Kerewan said government attaches great importance in building capacity enhancement for women and youths to curb address irregular migration and creation of self-employment opportunities.
According to him, government recognised enormous support and collaboration with the European Union in complementing government efforts in socioeconomic development and providing platforms of building the human resource of the youthful population.
Malamin IL Bojang, chairman of Kerewan Area Council commended Njawara Agricultural Training Centre and partners for their support in human resource development of women and youths on food production and business development techniques.
He said the training would contribute to address rural urban and irregular migration and encourage youths to stay in their communities and contribute to youth’s development and empowerment.
Chairman Bojang noted that the region has registered high rate of irregular migration and believe that the capacity development will contribute to empower young people to effectively partake in all sectors of economic development.
Sheriff Kanyi of Regional Education Directorate region 3 noted that the training would help in complementing Technical and Vocational Education Training TVET in bridging the gaps.
He said training would contribute and enhance youths to attain food security and sustainable development and create opportunities and job creation.
Muhamed Suwareh, chairman of Regional Youth Committee assured of youths willingness in acquiring professional skills in adapting to change and most importantly in agriculture and value change addition.
He calls for more support to youth’s development and empowerment in accelerating meaningful development.
Lamin Ceesay, Gikoko Ward in Lower River Region and secretary of student body at Njawara Agricultural Training Centre commended the donor for their support to youth’s development on climate smart agriculture. He assured participants commitment of completion of the 90 days training programs.
The training brought together students from the communities where UNCDF cash is being implemented and the wards are Prince, Saba and Katchang in NBR and Gigogo and Julangfarr wards in LRR.