A five-day 'Quest' team training workshop, organized by the Africa Emergency Locust Project, The Gambia, on Tuesday concluded at the Agricultural Rural Farmer Training Centre in Jenoi, Lower River Region.

The training, which drew participants from various key sectors such as the National Environment Agency, agriculture, health, water resources, military and the media, was said to be a prerequisite for an effective locust control mechanism, with the responsibility of monitoring the impact of pesticide on the health of human and livestock.

During the course of the five-day training, participants were exposed to pertinent areas such as pesticide poisoning, first aid and poisoning report forms.

Declaring the five-day training closed, Momodou Katim Touray, deputy governor of the Lower River Region, described the training as a very productive academic session, noting that all the pertinent areas were covered.

Deputy governor Touray then hailed the participants for their willingness to respond to any locust invasion and commended the Africa Emergency Locust Project for the sound implementation strategy.

Sheikh Tijan Sosseh, project coordinator of the Africa Emergency Locust Project, The Gambia, also described the training as very effective noting that participants were exposed to all the necessary areas which a standard quest team would require.  

"You have clearly demonstrated that you have fully received the message clearly during the course of the five-day training.  Your recommendations are indeed laudable, and they show that you are ready to work hand in glove with the project implementors for ensuring the attainment of its objectives", he noted.  While commending the government under the able leadership of President Jammeh for the continuous support to the project, as well as other key collaborators, the AELP project coordinator urged participants to live up to expectation. He assured them of the project's immense support.

For his part, Musa Dampha, director of extension services at the National Agricultural Development Agency (NADA), said that government, through NADA, was fully committed to the fight against locust invasion, which he said was a key threat to food security and sustainable livelihood development. At the end of the training, participants where certificated.