By Yunus S Saliu
The European Research Institute (ERI), Monday, 23rd May 2022, handed over an over D4million Aquaculture Facility project to Solicita Federation Women in North Bank Region (NBR).
The handing over of the project was held at the Aquaculture Site in Kerewan Riverside, North Bank Region and was attended by the beneficiaries, Governor of NBR, representative of EU, project partners, officials from agriculture sector among lots.
The project is co-funded by the European Union under Circular Economy in Sustainable Agricultural Development (CESAD).
CESAD Project is implemented by the European Research Institute (ERI) in partnership with the Agency for Development of Women and Children (ADWAC) and the Njawara Agricultural Training Centre (NATC).
Evangelina Blanco, Program Officer of the European Union delegation in The Gambia handed over keys to the store, pond and other materials to Fatou Jagne, president of the Solicita Federation Women. She received them on behalf of members while Lamin Saidykhan, Governor of the North Bank Region presided over the handing over.
In her handing over remarks, Evangelina Blanco thanked the implementing partners and beneficiaries for inviting European Union saying it is an honour to be part of the ceremony to handover the Aquaculture Facility to the community.
She explained that the project – Circular Economy in Sustainable Agricultural Development (CESAD) is part of EU larger program funding in The Gambia, “it is part of the big project of 20.5million Euros which is D1.2billion project called Agriculture for Economic Growth Food Security Nutrition to Mitigate Migration Flows in The Gambia.”
She added, it is part of the 11th European Development Fund located in The Gambia and the project had three components – one of them is Agriculture for Economic Growth implemented by the FAO, two is School Meals and Disaster Risk Management carried out by the WFP while the number three is the NGO component implemented by the NGOs through ActionAid, Action Against Hunger, and this CESAD project implementing by the European Research Institute.
According to her, the other program intervention was designed to take into account the potentials of agriculture sector in The Gambia for inclusive growth and also to improve food security in the country and reduce poverty.
The project, she disclosed, recognises some areas of potential improvement in the agriculture sector like larger arable land irrigation, better storage facilities, enhance entrepreneurial culture, improve taxes to market, better food safety and quality control and increases of other produce participation value change and in market among other important areas.
Madam Blanco reminded the gathering of the climate change and urged everyone to be aware and take into consideration the last year July 7 windstorms, increase salinity, sea level rise “all of these excess of climate change have been identified.”
She went on that the project, CESAD, kicked off 29th November 2018, a three years program, but extended by one year because of the Covid-19 which has impacted on all aspect of life.
The EU Project Manager dilated on the importance of the aquaculture project which she said is very new in The Gambia while she thanked the EU, ERI and local partners for continuing giving beneficiaries infrastructure among other things and now full aquaculture facility “and we are now handing it over to you to take responsibility, make it work and sustainable for the betterment of the community.”
Lamin Saidykhan, Governor of North Bank Region (NBR) expressed delights about the aquaculture project and thanked the EU for funding the project in extension, he applauded ERI and local partners for the implementation and unflinching supports to the region.
He described the project as “first of its kinds in this region and it will bring a lot of benefits to the people of Kerewan and across the river.”
The Governor disclosed that fish is scarce and costly in the markets and this aquaculture project is one of the ways to quickly solve the issue of scarcity of fish and the escalating price.
He however appealed for an expansion of the project across and beyond the North Bank Region while urged the beneficiaries to take full responsibility of the project to avoid failure.
Samba Jawo, Local Manager for European Research Institute called on beneficiaries to take full ownership of the facility and make it a sustainable venture.
He talked at length on the importance of the project and as well outlined some of the activities which CESAD project has brought to the region.
The Local Manager thanked EU for funding their activities and as well expressed gratitude to the local partners.
