By: Haruna Kuyateh
The United States Ambassador, Sharon Cromer has hailed women from North Bank Region (NBR) for their hard work saying, ‘’no nation can develop in the absence of women.’’
She made the remarks during a meeting with North Bank Region Women Marketing Federation and women farmers held in Njawara Agricultural Training Centre.
Ambassador Cromer recently led ‘an all-female team’ from the U.S. Embassy in Banjul to meet and discuss women development in the NBR. She noted that women needed fighting chance to contribute to decision-making, sustainable livelihood and development. She thanked management of Njawara Agricultural Training Centre for giving women the fighting chance.
Ambassador Cromer said the visit would help them to understand the current reality on the development needs of rural women and youths.
The Ambassador and team held discussions at NjawaraAgricultural Training Centre and the interface accorded women farmers to share their achievements and challenges on food production cycle.
Mama Manneh, the Executive Director of NjawaraAgricultural Training Centre described the visit by US Ambassador to the centre as important, noting that it would provide strong partnership between women farmer-based organizations and the embassy in advancing women empowerment drive.
She disclosed that the centre provided training for 600 adult women farmers, established 48 woodlots, 58 vegetable gardens, and 20 orchards.
She said some 200 young folks, of which 60% are girls, have been trained on production techniques through climate smart agriculture and value addition.
Dembo Samateh, the deputy governor described the visit as historic and that in 1962 late Queen Elizabeth 11 visited Njawara. He thanked Ambassador Cromer for her foresight, noting that women are principal food producers and providing support for them will increase capacity. He assured of government commitment to women empowerment and protection.
Other speakers included Fatoumata Jagne President of North Bank Marketing Federation and Salifu BagayogoPresident of Disabled Association.
