By: Haruna Kuyateh
Rural Development Organisation (RD) in partnership with Holistic Agribusiness Solutions Agricultural Training Centre in Balingho Saturday inaugurated 1ha vegetable garden and water facility for the community.
The ceremony held in Balingho Upper Badibou in North Bank Region was funded by the German Embassy in Dakar.
Momodou Y Bah Chief Executive Officer of Rural Development Organisation and Holistic Agribusiness Solutions thanks the community of Balingho for their support to the establishment of 12 ha Agricultural Training Centre for youths in 2018.
He said the inauguration of 1ha community garden and water facility is in fulfillment of an agreement between the donors and community, while he thanked German Embassy in Dakar and Sabah Lou Foundation in Germany for the mobilization of resources.
The CEO Momodou Y Bah noted that the garden and water project would transform lives and livelihood and contribute to poverty reduction.
The water project has capacity of pumping 63,000 litres of water per day and would boost production and productivity and productivity extension enhance consumption of quality water.
Bakary Jammeh acting Chief of Upper Badibou noted that the establishment of agricultural training centre and provision of garden would contribute to boost food production. He uses the moment to challenge the community for proper upkeep of facility.
Verena Braren Political Attaché Liaison Officer for Gambia at German Embassy said the project target 57 women out of 33 households benefitted from 1ha garden. She thanked the management of Rural Development Organisation and Holistic Agribusiness Solutions for their commitment to food production and livelihood development. Noting that, the fence would prevent animals including monkeys from tampering with vegetables.
Fatou Jammeh Touray Deputy Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Agriculture said the support complement government efforts in the quest to boost vegetable production and increase earning capacity of women. She disclosed that women are key principle food producer and the garden would enhance capacity in poverty reduction.
DPS Jammeh Touray assured of Ministry of Agriculture open door policy in addressing food security and nutritional supplementation.
Morro Sanyang Agricultural Extension Worker at Farafenni described the intervention as important and noted that it will contribute to year round vegetable production. He therefore assured them of Regional Agricultural Directorate fullest support to partners, institutions and organisations to strengthen food production through diversification.
Yahya Jammeh, alkalo of Balingho and Kaddy Njie thanked German Embassy and Sabah Lou Foundation for the support to women and youths. The duos said the vegetable garden would contribute to income and nutritional security of families.