Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Mr. Gaye TheVoice
Published on 2024-03-06 08:29:14
Women gardeners in the village of Kalagi in the West Coast Region are facing challenges that are impacting their productivity and incomes. The lack of inputs, storage facilities, market access, and unpredictable weather conditions are posing significant obstacles to their success. In response to these challenges, the women have called for more support from the ADB-funded Gambia Agriculture and Food Security Project (GAFSP).
Recently, the agriculture ministry, through GAFSP, organized a review workshop for the women gardeners in Kalagi. Officials also visited the village’s vegetable garden to assess the situation firsthand. The President of the Women Gardeners’ Association of Kalagi, Fatou Sanneh, highlighted some of the key issues faced by the women, including the lack of compost facilities, marketing challenges, and inadequate storage options for their produce. Despite these challenges, the women have taken matters into their own hands by implementing measures such as purchasing seeds and repairing the garden’s solar-powered water source through the association’s credit union account.
The Alkalo of Kalagi, Musa Tamba, echoed the sentiments of the women and called on the agriculture ministry delegation to provide support to the women in their agricultural endeavors. The GAFSP Country Coordinator, Modou S.W Sowe, reported that the garden in Kalagi has generated D2.7M in one cropping season, highlighting the potential of the project to improve the women’s incomes.
Sowe also emphasized the need for a cold storage facility to reduce post-harvest losses and enhance the women gardeners’ income. He emphasized the importance of technical support, training, and access to storage facilities to help the women manage their produce more effectively. Mr. Philip Boahen from the Agriculture and Agro-Industry for the African Development Bank commended the Ministry of Agriculture for their implementation of the project in The Gambia and reaffirmed ADB’s commitment to supporting the country’s agriculture sector.
Overall, the women gardeners in Kalagi are facing significant challenges that are hindering their productivity and incomes. Through the support of projects like GAFSP and the commitment of organizations like the ADB, there is hope for improvement in the agriculture sector in The Gambia. By addressing key issues such as access to inputs, storage facilities, and market opportunities, the women gardeners in Kalagi can unlock their full potential and contribute to the growth and development of their community.
Read the original article on The Voice Gambia
