By: Haruna Kuyateh
ActionAid International The Gambia and its partners recently handed over 96 tons of assorted seeds and cereals (Groundnut, Paddy Rice, Millet and Maize), rehabilitation of seed stores and capacity development worth over 3 million to 30 beneficiary communities in North Bank Region and Central River Region South ahead of 2020 cropping season.
The seeds were distributed among six (6) stockpiling centers – Sitanunku, Kerr Mama, Munyagen and Jalaba in the north and whilst Misera Toben and Nana Ba in CRR. The handing over of seed to Seed Management Committees at various communities, is part of project commitment to help smallholder farmers to attain food security and mitigate effects of climate change.
Foday Kanyi Project Manager “Promoting Agro-ecology and Eco-restoration practices in CRR South and NBR” the overall objective of contributing to job creation and food security for women and youth through agro-ecology and resilience building to mitigate against irregular migration.
The support is part of a project the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Phase I to the Gambia an action entitled ”The Gambia – Agriculture for economic growth and food security/nutrition to mitigate migration flows” programme.
He noted that the specific objective is to scale up adaptive capacities of women and youth on sustainable agriculture and climate change through agro-ecology and resilience practices and eco-restoration.
The duration of project is 36 months (3 years) starting from 1st August 2018 to 31st July 2021 with an amount of 824,615.00 Euros in partnership with Njawara AgricultuRalph Training Centre
Action Aid International the Gambia through EU funded project Agro Ecology and Eco restoration practices dubbed Climate Resilient Sustainable Agriculture CRSA on seed and cereal banking for 10 communities in Upper Nuimi.
The project will be contributing job creation and food security through Agro ecology and resilience building to mitigate against irregular migration for women and youths.
The project aiming to create growth and employment opportunities for women and youths, to help curb irregular migration through improved agricultural productivity as well as access to food, whilst at the same Vien increasing most vulnerable smallholders’ participation in value chains. The programme also recognizes there is a need for enhanced information systems, as well as crises management and prevention to build resilience.
He disclosed that the project target 1,860 Women and Youths has direct beneficiaries and final beneficiaries of 32,137 people in the southern Central River and Northern Regions will benefit from improved capacities on climate resilience sustainable agriculture and food security and employment.
The project manager noted that project has committed about 3million dalasis for the entire package for the communities (rehabilitation of 6 seed stores, training on seed bank management and procurement and supply of quality seeds). He challenged the committees to keep proper records of the beneficiaries and be proactive in monitoring for the success of the programme. He further mentioned that support will out to over 300 farm families/ households both seeds and cereals.
He has mentioned that ActionAid values transparency and accountability which needs to be demonstrated during the selection of the most vulnerable/ deserving farmers. He also avails on the committees to consider women and youth because they are at the center of the project targeted beneficiaries.
Seed and cereal banking scheme is one of the resilience building mechanisms in the light of climate change. However, prior to the handing over of seed, 67 seed bank management committees were trained on seed selection, record keeping, loan management, pest control and management techniques to help in the identification of vulnerable households at community levels.
The cereals are part of the package especially during the lean period it will support households whose stocks/ food stuff finishes before harvest season. The mode of operandi is if you take any amount of seeds or cereals for sustainability you will return the quantity to the store as reveling scheme for other famers in the coming season.
He called on farmers to uphold to WHO guidelines and Ministry of Health recommended practices to control spread of COVID19. He cited hand washing and physical distancing are key steps to help in the figth against COVID19.
Mama Manneh Director of Njawara Agricultural Training Centre call on committee to be vigilant especially during the loan recoveries so that they can maintain the quality seeds distributed and challenge the committee members to design strategies for expansion of the scheme to other neighbor communities who are not the direct project beneficiary community. He assured the communities of their unflinching support at all time necessary.
He noted that committees should ensure quality are pay back on time. to help promote cereal banking, as it would help to mitigate effects of climate change. He said the program once implemented should help to enhance food chain network and caution selected committees to attached social justice to ensure vulnerable individuals are reach and support to ensure timely planting.
Nuha Fatou Jammeh alkalo of Sittanunku thanks Action Aid International the Gambia for the support to farmers, noting seed are important .
The project team was advised by national Seed Secretariat during consultation to identify the certified seed growers/ enterprises in accessing quality seeds and the selection process was done through an open bidding process and a woman was able to meet the all the criteria and won the bidding and she has done it write.
The intervention targets women and youths in the communities of Kerr Sukum, Mamuda and Fass Chaho, Kerr Mama, Kerr Alpha, Sinchu Mamud Jaw, Sami Tenda.
He lauded the effort of ECO ZONE committees in Local Right Program LRP 9 office in Juffureh to help strengthen farmers capacity to operate in transparency and accountability.
Alh. Lang Jammeh chairman of Village Development Committee of Sittanunku described the distribution of seed is timely and call on beneficiaries community to be proactive to promote seed and cereal banking with the objective to address seed insecurity.
Chairman JIMBANA ECO ZONE Cherno Saidy echoed similar sentiment and assured of their commitment to boost food production and productivity.
Alh. Omar Bun Jallow Alkalo of Kerr Mama thanks Action Aid for the Rehabilitation of seed store , noting g that it has help communities to store government food Aid for onward distribution. He noted that the support provided by the organisation has contributed to enhance socioeconomic development and empowerment of womena and youths.
Awa Hydara a farmer from Kintrh Kunda Janneh Ya delivered vote of thanks and noted all committees should distributed seed as outline during the training held at Njawara Agricultural Training Centre.
Lamin Cham Chairman Village Development Committee assured of transparent and accountable implementation of cereal banking scheme
The beneficiaries community include Jalaba, Yallal Tankonjala, Kerr Ndongo, Kinteh Kunda Janneh Ya
Alagie Sarr alkalo of Jalaba in Upper Badibou thanks Njawara Agricultural Training Centre and EU Agro Ecology and Eco Restoration Practices for rehabilitation of community seed store and providing seed for five communities.
The beneficiaries at Munyagen Distribution Point hailed partners for their support to farmers in the form of improve seed and cereal banking to meet household food security.
Abdoulie Darboe a beneficiary from Darusalam noted that the capacity development training provided by the project has greatly help to identified farmers and put in place mechanisms that would in recovery of farm inputs
Jokadou beneficiaries includes Munyagen, Kerr Omar Saine, Kerr Jarga, Toroba and Darusalam.
Several speakers registered appreciation and thank both the implementing partners (ActionAid and Njawara Agricultural Training Center) and European Union for the foresight and the timeliness of the support and they promise to utilize the support more efficient and effective manner. It was attended by Alkalos, VDC chairpersons, cross section of women and youth during the presentations.
