By: Haruna Kuyateh
Engineers Without Borders sponsored garden and FANMANJI Association in The Gambia has embarked on an organized training program of compost making techniques for vegetable growers in North Bank Region.
The training aimed to equip farmers to promote the use of organic manure to enrich soil nutrients, health and boost marketing of quality products.
Saikou Suwareh, chairman of FANMANJI thanked Engineers Without Borders in Germany for massive investment in agriculture, noting that the garden has created employment opportunities for youths and women in the area.
He said training of farmers on compost making techniques is high on the development agenda, noting that the production and application of compost manure on gardens would reduce high cost incurred on fertilizers.
He used the moment to thank Engineers Without Borders for their support, saying youth and women of the region are in to year round production and this has contributed to economy development and food security.
He noted that production of compost using animal’s droppings and grasses would contribute to environmental management, sanitation and improve the health of population.
Mr Suwareh disclosed that the production target is 5000 bags of compost and it is meant to address fertilizer need of Saaba and its surrounding.
Kang Saikou Ceesay lead trainer and expert in horticulture thanked FANMANJI Association of Saaba and partners in Germany for their commitment to food security and nutritional development of families.
He noted that skills on compost making will help farmers to promote organic manure that will enrich soil nutrients and fights against the use of chemical fertilizers. He said large scale production on organic manure, would help address burden on farmers and discourage the use of chemical fertilizers will boost production and productivity.
Njogu Ceesay and Fafanding Danso of Saaba said organic manure help farmers to increase production and produce quality products to meet market demand.