By: Haruna Kuyateh
Women gardeners at Suntukung Vegetable Garden in Kerewan, North Bank Region, have described the Market Information System (MIS) as instrumental in improving the marketing of their produce and ensuring fair prices.
The disclosure was made during a recent field visit by Deputy Permanent Secretary Saikou E. Sanyang of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security to project sites under the GIRAV initiative across the country.
The visit, which covered several regions, aimed to assess progress in civil works, identify challenges and review implementation strategies.
Jonsaba Jawara, president of the Suntukung Women Garden, described this year’s marketing season as unprecedented, noting improved relations between farmers and middle traders in determining prices.
She said the introduction of MIS has enabled farmers to access reliable market information, leading to sales of over D400,000 from produce such as cabbage and onions. She expressed gratitude to the Ministry for its guidance and support, while commending fellow women gardeners for their commitment.
For his part, Sanyang praised the women for their resilience in food production and marketing, highlighting their efforts to build partnerships with traders to enhance market access. He urged them to sustain the gains made, promote savings and diversify their activities.
He noted that strengthening producer-buyer linkages remains key to addressing market access challenges and improving household livelihoods.
Commenting on the nationwide tour, Sanyang said the Ministry is mandated to monitor and supervise agricultural projects, adding that the visit was meant to evaluate ongoing works and address bottlenecks.
He observed that while civil works are progressing, farmers have called on contractors to expedite completion to enable full-scale production.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary added that beneficiaries have expressed appreciation to the government and the GIRAV project for the support provided to enhance agricultural productivity and livelihoods.