By: Haruna Kuyateh
In the drive to strengthen farmer’s capacity including youths to respond to the restoration of loss forest cover, 4H Gambia with support from Global Environment Facility are rolling out implementation of environment and youth friendly project to minimize youths migration through skill development and training on agro forestry.
The 12 months Global Environment Project will target 500 youths within 9 communities.
The program director of 4H Gambia a local NGO operating in Farafenni underscored the important of working with stakeholders and partners in building youth capacity to address irregular migration.
Alieu Ceesay was speaking during stakeholders meeting and launching of Global Environment Facility project dubbed Adapting Agro Forestry to Climate Change and building national based economy among youths to minimize rural – urban and irregular migration in Upper Baddibou and Jokadou.
The launching was held in Farafenni North Bank Region.
The launching was attended by farmers from the nine communities of Upper Baddibou and Jokadou, officials from agriculture, water resources and forestry.
The 4H Gambia aims is to empower youths on tree growing, management, process forest product, on farm and off farm products to minimize migration within the two intervention district of Upper Baddibou and Jokadou.
The project will contribute to reduce rural poverty among youthful population through skill development and training.
4H Gambia boss noted that the project will support with bakery to enable youth participate in income generation and contribute to supply chain of bread.
He said restoration and conserves the lost biodiversity through agro forestry; wood lot development and establishment of national based enterprise e.g. water melon and Wonjo processing.
“It is quite evident that extreme weather condition are as a result of human activities, citing the disappearance of most precious trees and wildlife species and worst of all is timber trade and bushfire,” he said.
Musa Samura Board chairman of 4H Gambia reiterated that the organization commitment to youth development and empowerment. He challenges youths to take up the opportunities provide by the organization to reduce migration.
Alpha Khan, vice chairman of Kerewan Area Council praised 4H for their unflinching support to youths in the region and assured of council support. He calls on beneficiary’s community to support the project on allocation of land for implementation of project activities.
Beneficiaries communities includes Biran Kunda, Conteh Kunda Sukoto, Conteh Kunda Niji, Kubandar and Galloya of Upper Baddibou and Jokadou includes:- Kerr Omar Saine, Kerr Ngorr, Kaba Koto and Memmeh
