By: Haruna Kuyateh
The Regional Steering Committee (RSC) for the Roots Project in The North Bank Region over the weekend rounded up its site visit to project sites in the region.
It was a daylong monitoring visit to the Roots Project sites and was meant to assess the level of project implementation and discuss challenges. The monitoring team visited KanumaVegetable Garden, Binta Secka Agro Food Processor in Essauand Binta Siro Agro Food Processing Centre in Kerewan, beneficiaries of the Youth Matching Grant, Salikene Rice Inputs Subsidy Support Program and Yallal Tankonjala Women Garden. And the visit was the first organised this year.
In a general overview of the monitoring visit, Governor LaminSaidykhan of the North Bank Region described the intervention in the Agro-food Processor Youths Matching Grant as unique, noting that it contributed to transformation and strengthening capacity on processing, value addition, packaging and addressed post-harvest losses.
He called on beneficiaries to be proactive and goodwill ambassadors of the project so it can be more innovative, and create employment opportunities through expansion of business outlets.
Governor Saidykhan reiterated the need for rice farmers and farmer-based organizations to support the project towards the actualization of food self-sufficiency and commercialization.
He, therefore, tasked the management committees of Kanumaand Yallal Tankonjala to adopt the best agronomic practices and ensure effective and efficient management of water for sustainability.
Karamo Minteh, Regional Agriculture Director and Chairman of RSC emphasized the need for effective group management to promote all-inclusive participation in water management and ensure fair distribution of water at the gardens.
Demba Sanyang, the Regional Coordinator for the ROOTS Project in NBR provided a detailed overview of the project interventions, and the delivery of materials equipment, and tools to Agro-food processors. He stated that the project also provided capacity development on digital marketing and marketing linkages, mentorship, financial management, record keeping, and support participation in the International Trade Fair.
He, therefore, called on the community of Salikene to uphold the arrangement to enable selected farmers to realize their potential in rice production.
The Coordinator expressed the need for proactiveness of the rice farmers’ association to ensure timely payment of 80% for input support.
Ma’am Sainabou Martin Sonko, Chief Executive Officer of Kerewan Area Council advised beneficiaries to consider expansion of business while noting with satisfaction the impact of the youths matching grants.
Among the beneficiaries of the Agro Food Processors of Youth Matching Grants from Essau and Kerewan, Binta Secka and Binta Jammeh respectively thanked the ROOTS Project management for the support and transformation of their lives and livelihood.
They noted that the capacity development on processing techniques, packing, labeling, exposure to participate at the trade fair, and delivery of materials and equipment contributed immensely towards the successful implementation of their businesses. In addition to that the social media platform, participation at trade fairs, and packing and branding, record keeping contributed to the success of the businesses.
The processing includes wonjo, mos dolly, moringa powder, honey, chakry, groundnut cake, roasted cashew, pepper sauce, and cereals into porridge among others.
Basaikou Kanteh of Salikene disclosed that the village has adopted a robust approach to input support, as each of the 200 beneficiary farmers will make a down payment of 20% to avoid late payment. Jarrai Dibba, a woman farmer thanked ROOTS Project for the support towards food production, and timely delivery of inputs support e.g. plowing through the use of tractor and power tillers.
Elizabeth Gaston Agricultural Extension Worker for YallalTankonjala Circuits noted that Farmer Field School contributed to enhancing shared learning, promoting organic manure.