By: Haruna Kuyateh
Action Aid International The Gambia Juffureh Office recently trained farmers on the importance of organic manure and its economic benefits. The training formed part of the EU Project called Strengthening Civil Society Organization (CSO) Support and Advocacy for Sustainable Production and Use of Organic Fertilizer in The Gambia (SAPOF) project.
The training held at Farafenni in the North Bank Region intends to produce 54,750 tons of organic fertilizers for distribution to women and youth groups. It targeted 15 participants and will promote learning and sharing of experience. This initiative aimed to empower smallholders to strengthen advocacy on organic manure and market linkages. The synergy was held in the Farafenni north bank region.
Saikou F Bah, Programme Coordinator at the Local Right Program 9 Office at Juffureh encouraged farmers to uphold the new initiative on the use of organic manure and its benefits.
The overall objective of the action is to strengthen the capacity of the CSO advocacy and policy dialogue to contribute to sustainable agroecological practices in The Gambia. The move aimed to “promote sustainable agriculture and control over natural resources to improve the livelihoods of people living in poverty and social exclusion,” he noted and added that the National Development Plan (NDP) of Gambia, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The expected outcome is to enhance the capacity of women, youths, extension workers, journalists, the disabled, and CSOs in the circular economy (waste to cash), agroecology, and the use of organic fertilizers. The outreach and advocacy programs conducted would contribute to the realization of attaining food security and sustainable livelihood, citing working with two agroecology platforms and three demonstration farms strengthened.
He gave a breakdown of the project saying it will establish three vegetable gardens in Balanghar Central River North, Dalaba South, and Sare Birom of Upper Nuimi in the North Bank Region and is estimated to reach out to 284,800. The trained groups will receive start-up kits.
Alfusainey M Sarr, Lead trainer from Ndofan Lower Nuimistressed the need for smallholder farmers to value production planning through seeking market information. He called on farmers to promote the use of organic manure thus the training would discourage the use of chemical fertilizer.
He emphasized that the use of digital technologies and market linkages through market information systems can help to determine and plan production cycles to meet market needs.
Isatou Fofana of Illiasa and Kaddy Jammeh of Sittanunkuthanked the Action Aid International Juffureh Office for building their capacity on the importance and use of organic farming. The duo noted that the advocacy on organic is important and relevant in strengthening farmers’ capacity on production technique and would contribute to increasing yield on vegetables, cereal, and rice.
However, Organic manure contributes to enhancing soil nutrients and is cost-effective. The beneficiary farmers applauded the project for empowering farmers through the farmer field school concept.
