By: Haruna Kuyateh
Future in Our Hand The Gambia recently organised five-day training for 40 women and youths on processing and preservation of farm produce aimed to control post-harvest loss, promote value addition and income, held at Kerr Sidiki, Upper Nuimi.
Halimatou Marong, Future in Our Hand program officer said building the capacity of farmers on technique and skills on processing and preservation would obviously contribute to harness human resource development and create market linkages for products.
She said five days training had exposed farmers to learn new skills and techniques on processing of tomatoes, pawpaw, pepper, groundnut cake in to juice, jam and paste.
Madam Marong also official of Future In Our Hand assured the group continues support to strengthen farmers capacity on value addition and while challenge them to sustain the program
She stressed that beneficiaries should strengthen and sustain ongoing initiative of promoting value addition.
Alkalo Ismaila Buso of Kerr Sidiki described the training as relevant for rural farmers to learn skills that help address post-harvest losses.
Mariama Konateh and Safiatou Jallow said the skills learnt would help them to process and preserve produce in finish products that would add more value. The duos said processing in to jam and tomato paste would boost nutrition and encourage consumption of local ingredients.