The Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters (MOFWR & NAM) with support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the World Meteorology Organisation (WMO) Thursday organised a one-day seminar for farmers on the application of weather and climate information to agriculture.

The forum was held at the Wellingara Agricultural Mix Farming Centre. The purpose of the forum was to sensitise farmers on the application of agriculture as well as to take stock of farmers concerns on the uptake to enhance agricultural production.

Speaking at the forum, permanent secretaryat the saidMinistry, Amadou Saine,noted that 95 percent of farming activities in The Gambia depend entirely on climate resources such as rainfall, temperature, sunshine, humidity and wind. He pointed out that stakeholders have no leverage over the climate nor are they properly informed about its fluctuations to enable them take appropriate decisions to either reduce the risks from unfavourable conditions or harness the outcomes for more spectacular benefits. He further noted that the role of meteorological information in the operation of the work of farmers will build closer working relations between the farmers and climate professionals.

Saine stated that the forum will avail the professionals and farmers the opportunity to share information on weather and climate change and farming. He disclosed that the rainfall registered in The Gambia in 2010 amounted to around 1,200mm while the torrential rains that occurred led to severe flooding of settlements around the Greater Banjul Area leading to the destruction of households and properties.

He added that the government fully recognises the importance of the agricultural sector as the engine of growth of the Gambia economy and therefore gives agricultural development a significant place in the Programme for Accelerated Growth and Development (PAGE). He finally thanked the Norway Ministry of Foreign Affairs and WMO for providing funds for the forum.

For her part, the deputy governor of West Coast Region, Fatou Sanyang urged the farmers to share the information with their colleagues.

The ceremony was chaired by the deputy director, Department of Water Resources, Bernard Gomez.