By: Haruna Kuyateh
Agency for the Development of Women and Children (ADWAC) through Global Climate Change Alliance GCCA+ Project dubbed Integrated Watershed Management for Climate Change Resilient Building in Coastal Communities in Upper Nuimi has recently presented a cheque of D75,000 to 25 beneficiaries.
The money formed part of 12 months project to train smallholder farmers on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Resilience Sustainable Agriculture (CRSA).
Presenting cheques to 25 beneficiary farmers, Pata Kanyi, ADWAC Livelihood Manager, said the project aimed to strengthen farmers’ capacity to adopt best practice of using organic farming. He noted that the overall objective is to contribute to the resilience capacities of coastal communities to the impact of climate change and adaptation of sustainable livelihoods and natural resources management.
He noted that the presentation of D3000 to each farmer is meant to buy small ruminants to enhance resilient building and promote revolving scheme among vulnerable families.
Mr. Kanyi disclosed that the management of ADWAC recognised the enormous strife taken by the communities of Sitanunku and Kerr Demba Holley of Upper Nuimi. And also their effort in training the women of Kerr Demba Holley, whilst Sitanunku produced huge quantity of organic manure and generate income to supplement garden activities.
He thanked SOLICITA Marketing Federation for their support and cooperation in advancing the welfare of women’s, citing access to market and production techniques. ADWAC Livelihood Manager called on Village Development Committees (VDCs) of beneficiary community to support in the actualization of project objective, to ensure each beneficiary farmer get nanny goat and monitor the revolving scheme of extending support to vulnerable families. The move would enhance resilience building and mitigate effect of climate change and boost food security at households’ level.
He noted that the project supports communities to establish seed/cereal Bank to provide agricultural seeds and food to vulnerable farmers. The support to schools aims to establish school environmental sponsorship scheme that promotes the planting trees to meet educational costs promote the use of organic farming while the support aimed at promoting small ruminants’ production to enhancing resilience building to mitigate effect of climate change.
Governor Lamin Saidykhan of NBR described the intervention and strategy as important, noting that the support would strengthen farmers’ capacity and contribute to human security.
The Governor disclosed that training on production of compost manure would address challenges faced by farmers and noted that organic manure is environmentally friendly and enhance growth development of plants.
He therefore assured farmers and ADWAC that his office would collaborate in monitoring the support extended to measure impact and management.
Demba Colley of NEA Regional Office in Kerewan described the capacity building on compost making as essential in strengthening adoption of environment friendly initiative. He called on beneficiaries to be optimistic and committed to the attainment of project objective to address restoration and preservation of forest cover.
Fatou Jagne President of North Bank Regional Marketing Federation SOLICITA reiterated their working commitment with development partners and NGOs in advancing women empowerment. She said small ruminants support would help make a big difference on the lives of women, as they are principal producers of food.
Madam Jagne called on vegetables growers to promote the use of organic fertiliser, as it enhances growth, development and easy to manage and most importantly it increases income.
The beneficiaries’ community includes (ToubaKolong, Lameng, Mbanta, Albreda, Juffureh, Njaba Kunda, Sikka, Pakau Njogu, Sitanunku, Pakau Saloum, Nemakunku, Bakalarr, Kerr Chebou, and SOLICITA Federation.