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| toubab1020 |
Posted - 18 Jun 2019 : 13:41:59
If YOU & YOUR FAMILY are HUNGRY,What Choice will you make ?
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"Sheriff Abba Sanyang, Central River Region said key to Gambia’s growth and development is building capacities, particularly those of farmers, reminding farmers that the seeds cannot make any impact if they decide to consume them instead of cultivating them."
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Monday, June 17, 2019
The Central River Region (CRR) commercial village of Brikamaba, Saturday hosted the Second Edition of the National Seed Fair where tons of seeds of different varieties of seeds were donated to several vulnerable farmers. The commercial town of Farafenni in the North Bank Region will also host the second phase of the fair today.
This will bring to a total of over 340 metric tons of seeds that farmers from both regions will benefit.
The events are being jointly organised by the National Seed Secretariat (NSS) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in close partnership with the Technical Advisory Committees, the Department of Agriculture (DOA), National Disaster Management Agency, NACOFAG, United Purpose and other key stakeholders.
The activity is funded by the European Union (EU) four-year Agriculture for Economic Growth and Food Security/Nutrition project that aims to mitigate migration flows.
The National Seed Fair seeks to leverage farmers’ access to adequate quality seeds of genetically improved crop varieties (mainly groundnuts, maize, cowpea, rice and findi) and other farm inputs such as fertilizer and chemicals in preparation for the 2019 cropping season. The event supports business of certified seed growers, an important step towards creating a seed industry in the country, as it will enable trade, exchange and distribution of planting materials among farmers, as well as facilitate market linkages and access to high quality seeds. It also promotes the production of improved varieties of cereal crops (Maize, Rice & Findi) and legumes (Groundnut and Cowpea), the flagship crops of the project.
Also, bio-fortified Orange Flesh Sweet Potato vines and Vitamin A rich maize variety (PVA SYN 13), Vitamin A rich Cassava, Pearl Millet were displayed by the EU funded Food Fortification projects of FAO and United Purpose at the Fair. The climax of the event was the presentation of the certified seeds to the beneficiaries by the FAO Country Representative through the Ministry of Agriculture.
More than 860 vulnerable farmers in the Lower Fulladou West District in Central River region South and Upper Baddibou District in North Bank Region will receive over 356 metric tonnes of National Seed Secretariat certified groundnut seed, 29 metric tonnes of maize, 15 metric tonnes of rice and 11 metric tonnes of cowpea.
An additional 9,900 vulnerable farmers in NBR, CRR, URR and LRR that are reported to be moderately and severely food insecure in 2018 pre-harvest report of CILLS will also be reached through normal seed distribution by FAO and partners. 98% of the total registered beneficiaries are able to have access to 0.5ha of land to grow their pre-ferred crop.
“Government recognises the fundamental importance of agriculture for sustainability and food security,” Director General of agriculture, Dr. Saihou E Sanyang said at the opening of the seed fair.
Speaking on behalf of the minister for Agriculture, Dr. Sanyang said the seed fair will immensely contribute improve food security and to the growth of the country’s economy.
The Gambia is primarily an agricultural nation with 80 percent of the population of just 2 million depending on agriculture for food and cash income. The farming economy is the only means of income creation for the majority of rural families, most whom live below the poverty line.
Dr. Perpetua Katepa Kalala, FAO representative said the seed industry is critical to agricultural transformation and performance, particularly the provision of complimentary basic input support like quality seed to small holder farmers. “Increased agricultural production is best achieved when the entire production chain is adequately handled by professionals. Agriculture is the fastest way to end poverty,” she said.
Central River Region-South and North are Local Government areas with the highest number of beneficiaries with 39% and 21% of the total beneficiaries registered.
Dr. Katepa Kalala expressed optimism that the seed fair will help facilitate a private sector led investment in input distribution. She thanked the EU for entrusting its resources with FAO and WFP to execute this project. “We are grateful for the partnership demonstrated over the years”, she emphasised.
Representing the European Union Ambassador, programme analyst at the National Authorising Support Unit, Mutarr Jammeh underscored the significance of the seed fair in addressing food and nutrition insecurity and youth migration as envisaged in Gambia’s 2018-2021 National Development Plan (NDP).
Agriculture is the most important sector of The Gambian economy, contributing more than 32% of the gross domestic product, providing employment and income for 80% of the population, and accounting for 70% of the country’s foreign exchange earnings. It remains the prime sector to raise income levels for investments to improve food security and reduce levels of poverty, he stressed.
Morro Manga, director general of the National Seed Secretariat said the seed fair will create synergy for collaboration between agriculture stakeholders and improve production and productivity for food security. He expressed gratitude to FAO and the EU for the support rendered to the seed sector over the years.
Sheriff Abba Sanyang, Central River Region said key to Gambia’s growth and development is building capacities, particularly those of farmers, reminding farmers that the seeds cannot make any impact if they decide to consume them instead of cultivating them.
Author: Amadou Jallow
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/vulnerable-farmers-benefit-over-340-metric-tons-of-seeds-at-2019-seed-fair |
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