By: Haruna Kuyateh
The women of Jokadou Dasilami have called on government through the National Disaster Management Agency and other humanitarian bodies to come to their aid following the Friday night downpour that washed away heaps of salt and planted onions at the women garden in the village of Dasilami Jokadou, North Bank Region.
It is over 200 women farming at the washed away garden and according to the rain figure obtained from Department of Water Resources in Kerewan Office, it recorded 105.7mm.
Speaking to The Voice newspaper, Aja Marokey Gasama, president of the women garden described the destruction as huge, noting that it has affected the livelihood of over 200 women in salt production and tons of onions were washed away.
She noted that those affected women do use the proceeds from the salt to take care of their household needs, plough rice fields for production and by extension diversify in to other economic activities.
For his part Bakary Kumba Gasama disclosed that the Friday rain took people by surprise which has resulted to significant losses on salt and onions production. He renewed call to the Ministry of Trade and as well onion importers to reach out to the community of Dasilami to ease marketing challenges of onion producers and construct proper drying floor and storage facility.