By: Haruna Kuyateh
Action Aid International the Gambia (AAITG) in partnership with Njawara Agricultural Training Centre through European Union funded Agro Ecology and Eco Restoration Project disbursed D1, 039,000 to 36 beneficiaries of small holder farmers in ten communities in Jokadou, Lower and Upper Badibou districts in the North Bank Region.
The money is meant to address the negative impact of climate change and curb youth migration thus creating employment opportunities.
The beneficiaries includes 19 poultry farmers, 8 sheep fattening and 9 goats farmers to help mitigate effects of climate change.
Salieu Samba, project officer Njawara Agricultural Training Centre said the support is meant to address effect of climate change, youth migration and help diversify in to income generating activities to address household food security and contribute to poverty reduction.
He noted that Njawara Agricultural Training Centre would help farmers in poultry to build their capacity to have basic skills and knowledge on poultry breeding.
Foday Kanyi, project manager Agro Ecology and Eco restoration practices at Action Aid International the Gambia noted that EU funded 20million Euro project would strengthen resilience building to mitigate effects of climate change, food security and boost poverty reduction.
“The support would help farmers to venture in to small ruminants and poultry farming.
The project would help beneficiaries with goats, sheep rearing scheme and poultry keeping strengthening resilience building and mitigating effects of climate change,” he said.
He disclosed that a total of D668, 000 was distributed by the project to 26 farmers in Upper Nuimi.
He urged communities to be steadfast and vigilant to protect the environment and encourage households to promote the use of improve cooking stoves.
Chief Matarr Gaye of Jokadou commended donor for their invaluable support to low income households to improve lives and livelihood.
According to him, the support to farmers in 2019 amounting D32,000 helped small farmers holder to have drought animals, seeder,shine hoes and seed and has strengthen their capacities to start planting earlier.
Chief Gaye further urged beneficiaries to ensure proper utilisation of the fund as agreed with the donor.
He also reiterated that the support and contribution will help attain food self-sufficiency and contribute to poverty reduction, while call on the donor to increase allocation for small rearing production.
Addi Bah a Young farmer said poultry farming will help him to contribute to socioeconomic development, adding that D46, 500 for his poultry farming will help him improve while he seeks for capacity development to enhance effective management of poultry.
He commended the community for their outstanding support for the implementation of project, noting that the past intervention has contributed to change of lives.
Fatou Cham a beneficiary of last year, who also benefited D32, 000 for draught animal, shine hoe and seeder, seed described the support as significant and has imparted positively.
Babou Nyass noted that the support provided by the project has contributed to strengthen farmers’ capacity to attain household’s food security.
Mamat Bittaye, assistant Village Development Committee chairman commended the efforts of Action Aid International The Gambia and Njawara Agricultural Training Centre for their invaluable support to the farmers in Kerr Omar Saine and noted that the VDC will continue to support beneficiaries towards actualization of their dreams.
Oulay Nyass, who benefited D 11,000 for sheep fattening said the money will help to strengthen women to address some of their daunting challenges to promote peace building.
